![]() They have an average lifespan of 8 years.Īs summer in North Texas comes to a close, it is not uncommon-in certain places around Dallas/Fort Worth-to find large kettles of adult and first season juvenile kites marshaling in preparation for their long migration back to South America. Because of the reduced amount of predators in urban areas, Mississippi kites produce more offspring in urban areas than rural areas. Clutches fall victim to storms and predators such as raccoons and great horned owls. Only about half of kites successfully raise their young. The young birds leave the nest another 30 to 34 days after hatching. ![]() Mississippi kites nest in colonies and both parents (paired up before arriving at the nesting site) incubate the eggs and care for the young. They have one clutch a year which takes 30 to 32 days to hatch. In the past 75 years, they have undergone changes in nesting habitat from use of forest and savanna to include shelter-belts and are now very common nesters in urban area that are highly populated in the western south-central states. Except in elm and cottonwood, most nests are fewer than 20 feet (6 m) above the ground, and are usually near water. Eggs are white to pale-bluish in color, and are usually about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) long. Mississippi kites usually lay two white eggs (rarely one or three) in twig nests that rest in a variety of deciduous trees, most commonly in elm, eastern cottonwood, hackberry, oak, and mesquite. Courtship displays are rare, however individuals have been seen guarding their nests from competitors. Mississippi kites are monogamous, forming breeding pairs before or soon after arriving at breeding sites. Wikipedia elaborates on the breeding habits of the Mississippi Kite in this way… They migrate back to North Texas each year in order to nest and raise their young. They overwinter deep in the interior of South America. Just be sure you don’t walk too close to their nests.Mississippi Kites are in North Texas during our summer months. They’re very much at home in towns and cities and can provide thousands of hours of bird-watching entertainment. They’re originally native to the open prairies of southern Kansas, but they’ve gradually expanded their range northward as far as Kansas City and Hays. Black and light gray in color, Mississippi kites are generally seen soaring effortlessly more than crossing the sky with rapid wingbeats. They’re smaller than most birds of prey, with bodies about 14 inches long, and wingspans stretching to about 31 inches. ![]() Most of the birds will depart on annual southward migrations in mid-September, and return to Kansas in late April. There have been a few times, though, when contact has been made and someone has hurried home with a little blood coming from their scalp. Most times their dives pull up a few feet short of hitting the perceived intruder. Mississippi kites are some of the most territorial birds in Kansas and become very protective when they have young in their nests. It’s not quite as much fun, though, when the birds are dive-bombing you while you cross your backyard or walk down a sidewalk. These graceful birds of prey often soar high overhead, sometimes as many as 30 or more in a group, as they snatch assorted flying insects from the air. It’s usually a joy to see Mississippi kites flying through the Kansas sky.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |