Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Explore this bird

Identification

58 cm (23") Fairly common. Southern swamps, marshes, rivers, open woodlands.

Deeply forked tail give it a giant Barn Swallow shape. Black upperparts and tail contrast with white head and underwing.

In flight; graceful and agile; may skim surface of water to drink or feed like a swallow.

Details in the field

4 photos

Credit: Kim Seng

Credit: Cuatrok

Credit: Kim Seng

Credit: Andy Sewell

Watch and learn

4 videos

Swallow-tailed Kite

Credit: MacaulayLibrary

Swallow-tailed Kite Encounter

Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Swallow-tailed Kite Feeding Young a Wasps Nest

Credit: Barbara Walker

English Project: Sustainability of Florida and Swallow-tailed Kites

Credit: MattsShenanigans

Where it lives

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 4 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

4 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 5

Where was the white seen in flight ?: On the wings and underbody · Unknown
Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: Yes · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Pointed · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Forked · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:370-swallow-tailed-kite:1:1 Source: 370 Swallow-tailed Kite, row 1

Rule 2 12 criteria confidence 1

Where was the white seen in flight ?: On the wings and underbody · Unknown
Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: Yes · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Pointed · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Forked · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States

result:370-swallow-tailed-kite:2:1 Source: 370 Swallow-tailed Kite, row 2

Rule 3 12 criteria confidence 5

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Pointed or wedge-shaped · Forked · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:370-swallow-tailed-kite:3:1 Source: 370 Swallow-tailed Kite, row 3

Rule 4 12 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Pointed or wedge-shaped · Forked · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States

result:370-swallow-tailed-kite:4:1 Source: 370 Swallow-tailed Kite, row 4