Swallow-tailed Kites in Florida are a joy to watch

I had been hoping to see more Swallow-tailed Kites this year, and my wish was granted last weekend when I came across a group of them while leaving the Lake Apopka Wildlife Refuge.

I love watching these birds, which migrate from South America to Florida in the spring and summer months to breed.

Audubon notes that they used to be more common across the Southeastern U.S., and their range used to extend as far north as Minnesota. Now Florida is where they are primarily found during breeding season.

I love how Audubon describes Swallow-tailed Kites: “Our most beautiful bird of prey, striking in its shape, its pattern, and its extraordinarily graceful flight. Hanging motionless in the air, swooping and gliding, rolling upside down and then zooming high in the air with scarcely a motion of its wings, the Swallow-tailed Kite is a joy to watch.”

The ones I saw were flying around hunting for insects to eat — they’ll grab and eat their prey while in flight. I also saw, for the first time, some swooping along the ground to grab a meal.

They are a joy to watch.