Swallow-tailed Kite Photo Gallery by Greg Lavaty at pbase.com

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

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JD		01-Jun-2018 22:02
Saw one 5/30/18 in Bay Oaks riding thermals over my back yard. 77059.

Guest		02-May-2017 02:20
saw one in bridge city, tx.

Guest		16-Apr-2017 23:01
I seen one of these birds yesterday flying over my backyard !!! 4/15/2017- Kyle

Guest		18-Mar-2017 20:49
We just had 3 circling out condo in Naples FL. One tried to land in an Oak tree in the parking lot several times. March 18, 2017

Guest		23-Jul-2016 22:40
We have seen this bird all summer in the sky behind our home in Sun City Center, Fl

Guest		06-Apr-2016 17:25
These are flying by my backyard on a da Ai ily basis..I am in San Antonio, texas..

Dee		09-Oct-2015 04:41
I was standing in my backyard late February of this year in McAllen, TX, when I looked up to see a small flock of approximately 10 of these birds, I believe, slowly soaring in a circular pattern. I was awestruck because they were huge birds, with beautiful white and black coloring, and they appeared to almost be hanging in the air. By the time I thought to get a picture, the flock had moved too far away. Amazing sight to see though.

SueEllen		26-Jun-2015 03:35
Saw 2 of these yesterday 5 miles south of Alachua, FL. Have seen at least one near there several times in the last year. Beautiful birds and I love watching them fly.

morris		11-May-2015 23:44
I see this bird everyday in my back yd I guess he's my kite, but I think he's trying to eat my small birds that have nest inthe tree buy the porch, I could have caught him the other day by hand, he fell to the ground at my feet, after getting hung up inthe branches, and missed his target, but he fluttered around a bit got back on his feet i thought he may have hert him self but he was ok and was able to fly again unharmed, but he cherps at me sometimes when he's flying around, maybe he's hungry, I have to see what he likes to eat besides my birds lol

Laird T		29-Jun-2014 18:45
We saw what I believe is this bird, when playing golf near Smithfield, North Carolina. I had never seen one before, but the shape of the wings/tail was so distinctive it was easy to check out on the Internet. From what I've learned, this species is one state north of where it should be.

Susan Arthur		10-Jun-2014 16:35
SuZ, I have seeing one for about 6 months flying over our 4 acres. Beautiful in flight. Mandeville, Louisiana

Al Stern		24-May-2014 20:08
Saw one this morning near Montgomery, TX, circling above the treetops. (On a bike ride on Collier Cemetary Rd.) First sighting of this for me!!! Impressive!!

PJ		16-May-2014 11:06
My husband and I seen this bird for the first time with our binocular's yesterday afternoon.. flying high over our area.. couldn't wait to find out what it was.. and this for sure is it.. !

Guest		11-May-2014 20:55
Richard Saw one in Saraland , Alabama

Lisa		04-May-2014 21:08
Saw one in Tarkington Prairie, Texas today. Beautiful bird! First time i ever seen one.

Brenda c.		22-Aug-2013 19:20
We have two that fly over our place fairly often, didn't know what they were ti I did some research. They are beautiful! When I hear their screech I run to look, haven't been able to catch a picture yet, but I'm trying!!

Dee		14-Aug-2013 15:15
I have seen two of these birds in Porter Texas one about a year ago when a neighbor was trimming a tree the bird was flying very close to the workers making unhappy noises. Then yesterday I saw another one it was a lighter color on the bottom and was making what sounded like baby noises.

Leslie Eckert		15-Jul-2013 20:58
Have seen one of these guys in Bradenton, Fl. and yesterday saw it sweep down right in front of me while my hubby & I sat on our front porch. We were curious and so had to look this bird up.

Paula Cox		14-Jul-2013 22:38
I've been watching 2 swallowtail kites on our farm this week between Hemingway and Johnsonville, SC first siteing and I've lived her 40 years!

guest		14-Jul-2013 19:03
Saw 2 flying in the Atascacita, TX area

Barbara Coughlin		04-Jul-2013 14:29
Been watching three Swallow-tailed Kites soaring over head from my back yard and over a peanut field across the street. Swooping down to catch something. Chiefland Florida.

Jae		23-Jun-2013 19:49
Today I saw one while I was working in the yard. Just beautiful the way it flys so effortlessly and it had a faint cry while it was circling around a pine tree. I live in N. Fort Myers, FL. near a large bay I call it, but labeled as a short river-Caloosahatchee.

Guest		11-Jun-2013 18:36
Saw one just south Of Ocala Fl. Awesome !!!!

Guest		07-Jun-2013 17:16
Just saw one in Sandy Hook, MS today. At first I thought a seagull had drifted north from the coast, but we are a little far north for them. This Kite was beautiful.

Guest		30-May-2013 01:48
Seen one in Panama City Beach, FL. a few days back. It had a smaller bird angry at, flying aggressively around it.

Charlie Spencer		24-May-2013 16:49
I've seen them while travelling in FL, but I saw one at work in Batesburg, SC at lunch today.

Guest		19-May-2013 22:49
Saw three of these today for the first time, in Buna Texas.

Guest		19-May-2013 01:28
I saw one in the north Houston area on the same day as James Prasek. I had always thought these predators were one of the most beautiful birds ever but never saw one "in the flesh" until the 16th of this month. Swallow Tail Kites are very rare indeed here. It could possibly be the same bird since I live within 20 miles of Crosby. The one I saw had also raided a mockingbird nest and one of the parents was in hot pursuit as it made off with a chick. As far as raiding the state bird nest....to a Texan a mockingbird is a state bird. To this bird its dinner, just the way it is.

James Prasek		16-May-2013 00:25
A couple days ago while in the front yard a couple Mockingbirds started making a lot of racket and attacking a bird that looked very familiar to this one as it flew out of a tree in the neighbors yard. It had what looked like a baby bird in it's claws as it flew overhead. I live in Crosby Tx. It is the 1st time I've seen this type of bird. I grew up seeing a lot of scissor tails in our area but this bird was at laeast 3 times bigger. Just wasn't happy with it robbing the nest of our state bird.

Guest		24-Apr-2013 19:44
Never seen these birds before, flock of about 10 or so gliding lazily in a circle, gorgeous. Badger, Mn right up close to the Canadian border

Wes Wankel		22-Apr-2013 22:14
Great pictures

Guest		18-Apr-2013 23:39
I have seen 3 of these in the last few days in Kingwood TX.

Guest		31-Dec-2012 01:05
I see this bird every april here in beauregard parish, louisiana. I whistle to he birds and they seem to soar right above my head... so beautiful. sissy

lynda		18-Dec-2012 03:40
We saw a swallow tailed Kite flying high above the pond on our farm in Ridgeville, SC. It was beautiful to watch. I hope it comes back.

cynthia		17-Nov-2012 23:30
Is there a kite that has a gray to grey blue belly ?

Larry Handal		03-Aug-2012 11:46
Another Fave of mine. Envious of your perched photos. Have not been fortunate enough to get that yet.

Julie B		26-Jul-2012 00:08
I saw three swallow tailed kites today. I first heard their high pitch call and looked up to see them flying on the wind current so majestically. One flew low over my house while I was in the back yard! I could clearly see every detail of his body and black and white coloration on his underside! I have only see them during daylight hours. I also seen them here last year. I live in Niceville Florida just north of Destin Florida.

Guest		23-Jul-2012 16:23
We too are in Beaumont, Tx and saw this bird for the first time this morning. While it is very beautiful to watch we were a little concerned because it was surveying our koi pond.

Guest		20-Jul-2012 17:58
I saw this bird this morning circling above my backyard in Beaumont TX. This is my first time spotting one-I love it's cry!

Guest		13-Jul-2012 16:25
Saw a pair today in Covington county Alabama for the first time in my life. They were strikingly beautiful! Very majestic in flight and quite distinctive colors. I hope they come back!

Bob		11-Jul-2012 13:50
Over the past 3 days, I've seen a flock of about 6 of them gliding and diving over our pastures catching insects. It's the first time I"ve seen them hear. ( High Springs Florida)

Mauricio Funes		09-Jul-2012 01:59
Sunday July 8th today as I was out on the park of my area,I was flying one of my RC Helicopters and I never seen this bird before. what was intriguing is not that I never seen this type of bird bout as i was flying this bird was following the helicopter and it was not just one bout three of them it look like they were so curious about My RC. this are some beautiful birds I never seen one so closeup, next time I'm going to try to film them

Ashley		02-Jul-2012 20:17
I saw this bird yesterday evening for the first time in Rosharon, TX. Ironically enough I was about to watch "The Big Year", I was disapointed that this beautiful bird was not in it.

Kelly		09-Jun-2012 11:18
I live north of Tampa, FL and I've been following this bird for a few years. The beauty just mystifies me, watching it glide across the wind currents and only the back tail directing it. I've rarely seen this bird flap it's wings. I look forward to this time of year when I can watch this bird soar. And (yes) the birds with the lesser forked tail is a juvenile.

Ron Compton		04-Jun-2012 02:44
Last week my wife and I saw our first Swallow-tailed kite flying over our acreage near Tickfaw, LA. Yesterday we saw two flying together, but one of them did not have the split tail. We're unsure, but speculate that the second may be a youngster just learning to fly. We welcome educated comments. Last year we saw our first Bald Eagle make a low fly over of our place, but haven't seen him since. I stand amazed at the sight of such majestic creatures right here at my home. I never thought I'd ever see such sights so close to such populated areas.

Deborah		23-May-2012 11:54
.....simply beautiful...... recent sighting at New Tampa Nature Park, Tampa Florida chasing a morning dove out of it's perch in a Pine.........

Guest		06-Apr-2012 13:58
I love these birds. I lived near the St. Johns River in Florida for around twelve years, and they'd fly up from there and make the most bizarre sounds while soaring on the thermals above my house. I usually saw them on Sundays, which was strange, because I'd rarely leave the house on Sundays, and sometimes in the morning on the way to work when I'd cross the bridge over the St. Johns just before hitting Sanford, Florida.

Guest		17-Aug-2011 21:31
Saw one of these in Liberty Texs on Monday 8/15/2011 around 5pm. It was just beautiful!

Ron Gaddy		13-Aug-2011 23:48
We say some of these Swallow-tailed Kites flying overhead today. Western North Carolina

Jackie Jonas		18-Jul-2011 20:13
My husband and I just watched 4 of these flying over our little lake in the back yard, we live in Hudson Fla. and this is the first time we have ever seen them, beautiful birds and kind of sounded like a car alarm...

shelly robbins		24-Jun-2011 19:41
my husband and i have been watching a pair of these birds for the past two weeks except ours are solid white on the underside. we have lived in east texas all our lives have never seen these gorgeous type of birds before. we live in colmesneil, tx. just about 50 miles north of beaumont. all the pictures posted are beautiful.

Doc		05-Jun-2011 20:01
Caught my attention immediately.Beautiful 2 1/2 ft wingspan.Circled pasture 2-3 days. Liberty.Texas

jeanette jump		31-May-2011 12:29
Wow, Thanks so much for the photo shoot...was in St Marys Georgia a couple weeks ago and saw the shadow first then the beauty circled around for about half an hour..I was mesmerized and didnt even think to grab my camera...was afraid to stop looking up for fear i would miss a moment of the beauty! jj

Doug		04-May-2011 19:36
Sorry about that. Bird was spotted in Gautier ( Go-Chay ) Mississippi, located on the mississippi gulf coast about 15 miles east of Biloxi Mississippi.

Doug		04-May-2011 19:32
Swallow Tailed Kite circling and landing in my back yard. What a beauty! Never seen this bird before. Actually landing in the top of my wifes confederate jasmine. Doesn't appear hurt. Maybe hunger took over. Anyway just beautiful poetry in motion.

allen wynne		25-Apr-2011 15:56
my wife and i just saw a swallow-tailed hawk. 23 plus years in florida, never saw one before. grabbed my camera and ran outside and it was gone

Lieve Snellings		19-Jan-2011 05:09
a very nice gallery ! I've never seen this beautiful bird, it must be great, so maybe one day I'll have the chance, in the mean time I come here and watch... V

Jay Fakier		31-Jul-2010 15:10
Spotted this bird in Thibodaux, LA today. I have been here 36 years and this is the first. Wonder why?

melanie Gusmus		26-Jul-2010 23:43
I live in Camden, Alabama. Today I was swimming in my pool and saw four of these birds circling and diving in my yard and wooded area for about an hour. I didn't know what they were till I found your web site. Thanks

Mel Valentino		21-Jun-2010 18:32
I live in Nicholson.MS next to Picayune,MS and have been here for 38 years and have seen one about every five years. However this year I have seen a pair of them and they have been staying around here for the past two months. Beautiful and big.

Mel Valentino		21-Jun-2010 18:27
I live in Nicholson.MS next to Picayune,MS and have been here for 38 years and have seen one about every five years. However this year I have seen a pair of them and they have been staying around here for the past two months. Beautiful and big.

Michael Anselmo		20-Jun-2010 16:44
Saw a Swallow tailed kite out back today and it was circling over the house. I went out front and it was circling about 40 feet up when I saw something drop slowly from what he was eating. It fell on the end of my driveway. I continued watching as it circled away down wind and I went to look what it was. It was the wing of an immature bird.

Linda Buckley		10-Jun-2010 15:11
A swallow tailed kite swooped down to a tree in my yard today. Very beautiful and graceful, silent, fast and efficient. My first time seeing. June 10, 2010

Guest		23-May-2010 18:09
Spotted a Swallow-Tailed Kite in Spring Hill, Fl. On May 23, 2010 Beautiful Bird....Fisrt time ever saw one!!!

Jim		10-May-2010 21:40
Spotted a swallow tailed kite today in Picayune, Ms. I've lived here 30 plus yrs. and this is the first time I've seen one.

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