Bird · GBIF taxon 2480719
Mississippi Kite
Ictinia mississippiensisMississippi kites are elegant aerial insectivores that spend hours soaring lazily over open fields, woodlands, and urban parks on long, pointed wings. They hunt on the wing, effortlessly snatching cicadas, grasshoppers, and dragonflies directly from the air and eating them mid-flight. During the breeding season, these social raptors often nest in small loose colonies and migrate en masse to South American wintering grounds each autumn.
RaptorMigratoryInsectivore
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Cicadas
- Grasshoppers
- Dragonflies
Predators
- Great Horned Owl
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Raccoons
ThreatsPesticide accumulation, habitat loss, and human persecution near nest sites
HabitatsWoodlands, savannas, open prairies, farmlands, and suburban parks
Life spanUp to 11 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAccipitridae
- SpeciesIctinia mississippiensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Nesting adults dive-bomb intruders near nest trees; give active nests a wide berth.
- Why it is dangerous
- Defending adults aggressively dive-bomb nearby pedestrians or pets, occasionally striking with sharp talons to protect their nest.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Identified by smooth grey plumage, dark eye patches, smooth buoyant soaring flight, and high-pitched whistling calls.
- What to do
- Steer clear of known nest trees in summer, and carry an open umbrella or wear a hat when walking nearby.
Responsible observation
- Observing Flight: Watch open fields and tree canopy edges during warm afternoons when thermal currents carry foraging flocks.
- Nest Etiquette: Give nesting trees a wide berth in summer to prevent stress and defensive dive-bombing behavior.
- Binocular Views: Look for distinct smooth grey plumage, red eyes, and a broad dark tail without banding.
Nesting Neighbor (c) Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Co-occurring Raptor (c) cello caruso-turiello, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by cello caruso-turiello · cc-by
Primary Prey Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Ron Knight, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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