ABOUT THIS SPECIES
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE – (Species Account Weblog #90)
TAXONOMIC TREE:
- ORDER: Accipitriformes,
- FAMILY: Accipitridae,
- BINOMIAL NAME: Elanoides forficatus
With its placing black and white plumage, deeply forked tail, and extraordinary aerial grace, the Swallow-tailed Kite is never misidentified because it programs low over the treetops seeking small vertebrates or twists and dives in pursuit of flying bugs. Even at nice distances, hovering Swallow-tailed Kites might be distinguished from Buteo hawks and vultures by their silhouette, barely downcurved wings, and tendency to hold immobile whereas heading upwind. They not often flap their wings however nearly repeatedly rotate their tail, usually to almost 90 levels, in an effort to maintain a heading, flip abruptly, or hint tight circles whereas drifting throughout the sky. (from Birds of the World)
GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION
PERSONAL OBSERVATION ANECDOTES
In Costa Rica we noticed a number of teams of Swallow-tailed Kites flying overhead close to Sarapiqui after which later close to Arenal.
PHOTO GALLERY
**A few of these Picture Gallery photos (all taken by me) have been taken in different close by international locations.
RECENT BLOG POSTS
View the 5 most up-to-date Birds & Birding in Costa Rica collection weblog posts under.
