![]() ![]() It surveys the surrounding leaves and branches for prey, then strikes. To catch its next meal, a double-toothed kite perches motionless on a branch. Small lizards, mice, and insects are on the menu. They rely on branches and foliage to keep them camouflaged from prey while they hunt. It has a relatively short tail and long, pointed wings, which it uses to maneuver through the forest canopy as it hunts for prey. Their name comes from their distinctive hooked beak with two sharp, curved “teeth” on the upper mandible. Their throat is pale and their chest and belly are cream barred with rusty red. The Double-toothed Kite has a dark head, back, wings and tail. Double-toothed kite Double-toothed kite on tree branch | image by Ben Tavener via Flickr | CC BY 2.0ĭouble-toothed kites are non-migratory raptors that live from northern South America, through Central America to Mexico. Occasionally they will forage on the ground or in shallow water.Ģ. They tend to grab prey while in flight, either snatching large insects from the air or plucking frogs, lizards and snakes from plants. Their body shape is slender, and in flight they narrow, pointed wings.ĭepending on where they live they eat quite a wide variety. They have a pale head and chest, a dark eye patch, and dark wings and tail. Their coloration is mix of light and dark grays. Western birds tend to nest in groups more than eastern ones. ![]() These social birds don’t mind nesting close to each other, but will aggressively defend their nests from any other threats including humans. More recently they have taken to nesting in urban areas like parks and golf courses. West of the Mississippi their nesting sites can be found in oak and mesquite savannah and trees lining rivers. Come fall, they will migrate down to central parts of South America to spend the winter.Įast of the Mississippi River they nest in large tracks of mature forest that have open land nearby, such as pastures, waterways or lakes. A small pocket of Mississippi kites live in Arizona too. during the summer in the southeast states in large, wooded wetland, and the prairies of Texas and Oklahoma. They like to breed along the Mississippi River as far north as Iowa. Mississippi kites are the most widespread species of kite in North America. Scientific name: Ictinia mississippiensis Mississippi kite Mississippi Kite | image by Robert Nunnally via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 But, they have less agility when it comes to tight maneuvers.Ĩ Species of kites in North America 1. Overall they spend much more time soaring than hawks and falcons. Behavior: Kites are known for their graceful flight and their ability to soar effortlessly for long periods of time.Falcons are known for their high-speed dives to catch their prey and are much faster moving than kites. They typically hunt by perching and waiting for prey to come within range. Hawks, on the other hand, are more specialized hunters and tend to focus on a specific type of prey, such as rodents, birds, or insects. ![]() They typically hunt by soaring and scanning the ground for prey. Hunting Style: Kites are often opportunistic hunters and feed on a variety of prey, including small mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects.Falcons also have longer, pointed wings but are mainly designed for speed. Hawks have shorter, broader wings that are designed for quick, agile flight. Wing Shape: Kites have long, pointed wings that are designed for soaring and gliding.While these many not hold true for every specific species, here are some general differences between these three types of birds: Kites, falcons and hawks are all birds of prey that share many similarities. How are Kites different from hawks and falcons? Kite species can be found around the world, but in this article we will specifically look at 8 species of kites in North America, including the few species you can see in the United States. Their high-powered eyesight helps them spot prey, which they dive onto and grab with their sharp talons. Kites can take to the skies and sail along on updrafts and thermals. Kites aren’t just colorful pieces of fabric on a string that kids like to fly! A kite is also a type of bird-of-prey like hawks and falcons. ![]()
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