Birdsong field guide
Mississippi Kite
Ictinia mississippiensis
The Mississippi Kite is a slender, graceful raptor known for its exceptional aerial agility and striking slate-gray plumage. It is often observed gliding effortlessly while hunting large insects mid-air.
What it sounds like
A thin, high-pitched, two-syllable whistle resembling a squeaky toy, typically transcribed as 'phee-phew'.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- They are highly social raptors that often nest in loose colonies and forage in small groups.
- Their diet consists primarily of large insects like dragonflies and cicadas, which they frequently catch and eat while still in flight.
- Mississippi Kites are long-distance migrants, traveling from the United States to wintering grounds as far south as Argentina.
- Adult birds possess distinctive deep red irises and a pale gray head that contrasts with their darker charcoal-colored wings.
- They are known for 'dive-bombing' perceived intruders, including humans, to protect their nesting territories in suburban areas.
Habitat
Riparian woodlands, open deciduous forests, and increasingly in urban parks or golf courses with mature trees.
Range
Breeds across the southern and central United States; winters in central and southern South America.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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