Ictinia mississippiensis
Mississippi kite

Mississippi kites breed in Arizona and the southern Great Plains, east to the Carolinas and south to the Gulf Coast. They are found in the largest numbers in the central states of Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Over the past ten years, the range of Mississippi kites has increased, and the species has been seen wandering as far north as New England in the spring and to the tropics in the winter. Mississippi kites migrate to the tropics or subtropical areas in South America, southern Florida or southern Texas for the winter. (Audubon Adopt-a-Bird, 2000; Austing, 1997; Fantina, 2001; ; Robbins, et al., 1966; Texas Parks & Wildlife, 1996)

In the central plains and southwest part of their breeding habitat, Mississippi kites live in mature bottomland forests with mixed hardwood trees. They prefer large tracts of forest near to open habitat such as pastures or agricultural fields. In the south-central Great Plains, Mississippi kites prefer woodlands and oak savannas mixed with prairie. (Audubon Adopt-a-Bird, 2000; Austing, 1997; Fantina, 2001; ; Parker, 1999; Robbins, et al., 1966; Texas Parks & Wildlife, 1996)

Mississippi kites are small falcon-shaped birds of prey. Females are larger than males, ranging from 34.5 to 37 cm in total length and 270 to 388 g. Males range from 34 to 36 cm in length and weigh 214 to 304 g. The wingspan of adult Mississippi kites ranges from 75 to 83 cm (average 79 cm). They are grey and black in color, with a light grey head and underparts, and dark grey to black backs and upperwing coverts. In addition to being larger, females tend to have a darker head and shoulders than males. Mississippi kites have red eyes with a black area around the eyes and yellow to red legs. Their wings are narrow and pointed, and wing tips and tail are black. This coloration helps distinguish these kites from other raptors in flight.

Immature Mississippi kites look very different from adults. They have white or buff heads, necks and undersides heavily streaked with brown and black. Their upper body and wings are dull black with some light colored edging on the feathers. The tails of juvenile Mississippi kites have three thin white stripes on the underside. They retain this juvenile plumage until their second fall.

Adult Mississippi kites are occasionally mistaken for northern harriers, but they do not have the white rump or broad and pale body of northern harriers. Immature birds are sometimes confused with the young of broad-winged hawks and peregrine falcons. (Audubon Adopt-a-Bird, 2000; Austing, 1997; ; Parker, 1999; Robbins, et al., 1966; Texas Parks & Wildlife, 1996)

Mississippi kites are monogamous. They form pairs before arriving at the breeding grounds or soon after arriving. Courtship displays are rare. However, individuals have been observed guarding their mate from competitors. (; Parker, 1999)

Mississippi kites breed once per year between May and July. Most individuals begin breeding at age 2. Males and females form pairs before arriving at their breeding site around mid-May. Five to seven days after arriving, they begin to build a nest or refurbish an old nest. They prefer to have a high nest in the fork of a tree, 3 to 30 meters from the ground. When building their nest they sometimes choose a location surrounded with wasps and bees, which ward off botflies that attack their young. The flat, bulky nest is constructed of small twigs and sticks with a lining of Spanish moss.

The female lays 1 to 3 eggs (usually 2), and begins incubating as soon as the first egg is laid. Both parents incubate the eggs for 29 to 32 (usually 30) days. The newly hatched chicks are altricial, and are brooded nearly constantly by the parents for the first 4 days. Both parents bring food to the chicks for at least six weeks. The chicks begin to leave the nest at about 25 days old, and begin flying at 30 to 35 days old. Most juveniles become independent of their parents within 10 days of fledging. (Audubon Adopt-a-Bird, 2000; Austing, 1997; Illinois Natural History Survey, 1998; ; Parker, 1999; Robbins, et al., 1966; Texas Parks & Wildlife, 1996)

Both parents incubate the eggs, and brood the chicks for the first few days after hatching. Both parents bring food to the chicks for at least six weeks. For the first week or so, parents regurgitate insects for the young chicks. After this initial period, the parents offer insect parts and parts of vertebrates to the chicks for a period of about 4 days, after which whole prey items are brought to the nest for the chicks. (Audubon Adopt-a-Bird, 2000; Austing, 1997; Illinois Natural History Survey, 1998; ; Parker, 1999; Robbins, et al., 1966; Texas Parks & Wildlife, 1996)

The oldest known wild Mississippi kite lived 11 years. (; Parker, 1999)

Mississippi kites are social birds. They roost, forage and migrate in groups, and often nest in loose colonies.

Mississippi kites are most often seen on the wing. Their flight is smooth but is not described as soaring. Rather, it veers and often changes elevations. Kites do not display the circling behavior of some raptors, but rather fly more often in a straight line. Kites can eat on the wing using one or both feet to pick their prey to pieces. Seldom do kites perch to eat.

All Mississippi kites are migratory. They gain weight in August before beginning migration, and leave the breeding grounds in September. (Illinois Natural History Survey, 1998; ; Parker, 1999; Robbins, et al., 1966)

One study estimated the home ranges of breeding Mississippi kites to be 3 to 20 square kilometers in size, with an average size of 12 square kilometers. (; Parker, 1999)

Mississippi kites communicate using two different whistle-like calls. One call has been described as a two syllable “phee phew” with the first note short and rising and the second longer and downwards. The other call has been described as "phee-ti-ti." (Parker, 1999)

Mississippi kites are primarily insectivores. Their favorite foods are insects in the orders Orthoptera (grasshoppers) and Odonata (dragonflies). This species also eats small snakes, frogs, lizards, small birds, bats, and fish. Kites usually hunt within 400 meters of their nests, and can eat while flying. Mississippi kites sometimes follow large mammals and feed on insects that they flush. (Audubon Adopt-a-Bird, 2000; Austing, 1997; Fantina, 2001; Illinois Natural History Survey, 1998; ; Robbins, et al., 1966)

Mississippi kite eggs, chicks and adults are vulnerable to predation by raccoons and fox squirrels. Other known predators of eggs and chicks include great horned owls, hawks (family Accipitridae), ants, blue jays, American crows, common grackles, snakes (suborder Serpentes) and greater roadrunners. (Austing, 1997; ; Parker, 1999)

Mississippi kites impact the populations of the prey they eat, particularly grasshoppers and dragonflies.

Some Mississippi kites show a commensal relationship several other species. For example, Mississippi kite nests are often found with wasp nests near or on the kite nests. The wasps probably provide protection to kites against climbing predators. Several smaller bird species, including house sparrows, northern mockingbirds and blue jays often build nests on or near Mississippi kite nests. (; Parker, 1999)

Mississippi kites help to control populations of insects that are agricultural pests. (Illinois Natural History Survey, 1998)

Adult Mississippi kites become very aggressive when their nests contain young. They may defend their nest from perceived threats, including humans, by diving at them. As a result, they are seen as unwelcome guests in many places. (Illinois Natural History Survey, 1998)

Mississippi kites are not federally threatened or endangered. In fact, their overall numbers are stable or increasing. However, they are still threatened in some states by habitat destruction or disturbance.

Mississippi kites are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and CITES Appendix II. (Parker, 1999)