Mississippi Kite

Mississippi kites perform effortless aerial acrobatics, buoyant on thermal currents as they hunt swarms of flying insects mid-air. Breeding in woodland groves and urban parks across the southern and central United States, these social raptors often nest in loose colonies and migrate in large flocks to South America for the winter. Pairs work together to build stick nests high in deciduous trees and aggressively defend their chicks from passing intruders.