Mississippi Kite

Ictinia mississippiensis

Unlike many raptors, Mississippi Kites are highly social and often nest in loose colonies, sometimes even sharing the same tree with other pairs.

Scientific name

Ictinia mississippiensis

Taxonomy

Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Accipitriformes › Accipitridae › Ictinia

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Population trend

increasing

Biome

forest

Habitat

Mature riparian forests, oak mottes, and increasingly common in urban parks, golf courses, and suburban neighborhoods with tall trees.

Diet

Primarily large insects like cicadas, dragonflies, and grasshoppers; occasionally hunts small birds, bats, and reptiles.

Range

Central United States, Southeastern United States, South America (Wintering)

Size

Length: 12-15 inches; Wingspan: 30-35 inches; Weight: 215-390 grams.

Lifespan

8-12 years

Active

diurnal

Threats

Pesticide use which reduces insect prey populations and may lead to chemical accumulation; removal of nesting trees in urban areas.

Safe to approach?

Mississippi Kites are generally harmless but fiercely defensive of their nests. During summer, they may dive-bomb humans who get too close to nesting trees. Maintain a safe distance of at least 50 feet. If a kite dives at you, walk away quickly and calmly; they rarely make physical contact but will continue to swoop until you leave their territory.

The Mississippi kite ( Ictinia mississippiensis ) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Mississippi kites have narrow, pointed wings and are graceful in flight, often appearing to float in the air. It is not uncommon to see several circling in the same area.

Photo: Laura Clark, CC-BY, via iNaturalist

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