Mississippi kites have returned to central Missouri after a winter in South America (primarily in southern Brazil and northern Argentina). Usually migrating in sizable flocks, they begin to split up as they approach their summer range.
Despite their name, these kites are most abundant in the Southeastern U.S. and across the Southern Plains but some nest as far north as Iowa and Nebraska. As I have reported in the past, they have become increasingly common in central Missouri in recent years; indeed, I saw two late yesterday afternoon.
These spectacular aerialists are best observed in the evening, when they swoop and dive to snare flying insects. Should they land, usually in the tops of large shade trees, their whistling calls are frequently heard. They'll stick around until September, when they begin their long journey back to the Southern Hemisphere.
See also: Whistling Kites
