Date: 7/26/26 9:45 am From: Patricia McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Get Ready for Swallow-tailed Kites
If you've never seen one of these beauties, just prepare yourself. They are amazing to watch and incredibly graceful in the sky as they dive for insects and nibble on them in mid air. While they are basically just plain black and white, their body feathers look incredibly soft, similar to the look of a Cedar Waxwing.
Historic records indicate they bred in Arkansas before the 1940s. There are currently attempts to document they are breeding in Arkansas again, and numerous adults have been spotted in favorable areas, all in the southern part of the state. After breeding season, they begin what is referred to as "post-breeding dispersal," which basically means they can show up in any suitable habitat across Arkansas. This most commonly happens in August and September where they can be seen flying over open fields, large chicken farms and along riparian areas. They primarily eat insects such as dragonflies and beetles.
I'm mentioning all this because Michael and I saw two out of four Swallow-tailed Kites yesterday, Saturday, July 25, mixed in a large flock of Mississippi Kites. Friend Dick Baxter told us about them so we drove down to the McGehee area and saw them on his private land.
While this is an early date for dispersal, we noticed ten Mississippi Kites floating and calling over our house this morning, which potentially means breeding and raising chicks is done and it's time to explore the vastness. So be sure and check all the kites you see flying above, and look for the one with the distinctly forked tail. They can literally show up anywhere. In fact, the first one I ever saw in Arkansas was over Hall High School in Little Rock. So, yes, anywhere.
