During the doldrums of summer birding, we hope for unexpected sightings to highlight our bird counts and field trips. This evening, a Mississippi kite provided that service.
While fairly common in central Missouri during the warmer months, Mississippi kites are a bit erratic in their presence and today's visitor was the first I have seen this year. Swooping and tilting just above the treetops, it was hunting for flying insects, its primary source of nutrition; these elegant raptors also prey on a variety of amphibians and reptiles. Most abundant across the Southern Plains, Mississippi kites are long-distance migrants, wintering in southern portions of South America.
Always inspiring to observe, this evening's visitor was especially welcome as June draws to a close. As I have mentioned in the past, it is, in my opinion, the least interesting month for birding across central latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere (see The Month without Migrants).
While fairly common in central Missouri during the warmer months, Mississippi kites are a bit erratic in their presence and today's visitor was the first I have seen this year. Swooping and tilting just above the treetops, it was hunting for flying insects, its primary source of nutrition; these elegant raptors also prey on a variety of amphibians and reptiles. Most abundant across the Southern Plains, Mississippi kites are long-distance migrants, wintering in southern portions of South America.
Always inspiring to observe, this evening's visitor was especially welcome as June draws to a close. As I have mentioned in the past, it is, in my opinion, the least interesting month for birding across central latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere (see The Month without Migrants).
