05/10/2026
The Kite's are back today circling above watching me. The storms are rolling in, as well as the wind, they've used this as an advantage to coast or appear "kite" like while never flapping their wings and only using their triangler tail feathers to shift back and forth to guide themselves.
About the Mississippi Kite:
This bird is a member of the Raptor family (think hawk, eagle, etc.), eating primarily insects(insectivores) but will occasionally snack on a small snake, lizard, or frog.
Mostly gray/silver in color, with orange yellow feet, they are known for foraging in groups with family members and nesting in colonies.
At only 13-15 inches long with a wingspan of 28-33 inches, they are much smaller than that of our common Red Tail Hawk, to which their wingspan is 43-57 inches long.
During breeding season, the Kite can dive bomb humans and pets to protect their mate or young at speeds of 60-100mph. Unlike the Red Tailed Hawk, which reaches 120-140 dive bomb speeds.
The Kite is considered part of the "productive" and helpful wildlife population, eating June Bugs, and Cicada the most, and are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
