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I photographed this Swallow-Tailed Kite along the Anhinga Trail in the Royal Palm area of Everglades National Park. We had just returned from the Castellow Hammock Preserve and its hummingbirds, had a couple of hours more to kill before getting ready for dinner and decided to give the Everglades one last chance. Unfortunately, we were again disappointed with the number and variety (or lack thereof) of birds in the park. The number of Purple Gallinules at the Anhinga Trail was one possible exception, but not enough to appease our disappointment. However, out of nowhere and for our first time ever, two Swallow-Tailed Kites appeared flying low over the Anhinga Trail. I feasted on their short appearance.
The Swallow-Tailed Kite is a pernine raptor which breeds from the Southeastern United States to eastern Peru and northern Argentina. It is the only species in the genus Elanoides. Most North and Central American breeders winter in South America where the species is resident year-round. The bird is 20 to 27 inches (50 to 68 cm) in length, with a wingspan of approximately 3.7–4.5 feet (1.12–1.36 m). Male and female individuals appear similar. The body weight is 11–21 ounces (310–600 g). The body is a contrasting deep black and white. The flight feathers, tail, feet, bill are all black. Another characteristic is the elongated, forked tail at 10.8–14.6 inches (27.5–37 cm) long, hence the name swallow-tailed. The wings are also relatively elongated, as the wing chord measures 15–18 inches (39–45 cm). The upper side of the wings is black along with the tail, feet, and bill. The underside of the wings is partly black and partly white. Young swallow-tailed kites are duller in color than the adults, and the tail is not as deeply forked. Sometimes a high-pitched chirp is emitted, though the birds mostly remain silent.
Info above was extracted from Wikipedia.

Tags: American Swallow-Tailed Kite Kite Kite, Swallow-Tailed Swallow-Tailed Elanoides Forficatus Elanoides Pernine Raptor Royal Palm Anhinga Trail Everglades National Park Everglades National Park Florida Paul Fernandez