Mississippi Kite Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesMississippi Kite
Adult
Small, slender raptor with narrow and pointed wings and a long tail. Note dark tail in flight.
© Don Danko / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, May 18, 2019Immature
Small raptor with pointed wings and a long tail. Immatures have a banded tail and mottled looking wings. Younger juveniles have brown streaking on the belly.
© Chris Dennard / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, July 01, 2016Adult
Slim, graceful raptor with pale head, dark eye patch, and dark gray wings.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, June 19, 2010Not all videos have sound
Adult
Slim raptor with pointed wings and long tail that can show a shallow fork. At close range, note striking pattern gray-black-white pattern in wings.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryAugust 09, 1997Not all videos have sound
Adult
Pale gray overall with darker gray wings and a black tail. At close range note the red eye and dark eye patch.
© Byron Stone / Macaulay LibraryTexas, May 12, 2015Adult
Adults are pale gray below and darker gray above with a long black tail. Note dark eye patch.
© Mike Austin / Macaulay LibraryTexas, June 18, 2020Flock
Forms large flocks during migration. Flight style is light and buoyant.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryTexasNot all videos have sound
Juvenile
Juveniles have heavily streaked bellies. Note long wings and tail.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryColorado, August 16, 2020Adult
Graceful and buoyant fliers that catch insects on the wing.
© Marky Mutchler / Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, August 20, 2017Adult
Eats mainly insects, typically caught and eaten on the wing. Often sits on exposed perches and scans for prey.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryAugust 09, 1997Not all videos have sound
Habitat
Found in bottomland hardwood forests and in tree-lined areas including windbreaks, shelterbelts, parks, and urban areas.
© Matt Brady / Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, May 16, 2014Flock
Forms large flocks during migration.
© Nick Bayly (SELVA) / Macaulay LibraryBocas del Toro, September 12, 2017Similar SpeciesWhite-tailed Kite
Adult
White-tailed Kite's range is mostly farther west than Mississippi Kite, although the two species do overlap in parts of Texas. White-tailed Kite is much brighter white than the grayish-black Mississippi Kite, and has bold black patches on the shoulders.
© Matt Davis / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 15, 2017Similar SpeciesWhite-tailed Kite
Adult
White-tailed Kites are paler overall than Mississippi Kites with contrasting black shoulders.
© DigiBirdTrek CA / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 16, 2017Similar SpeciesPeregrine Falcon
Adult
Peregrine Falcons can look like a soaring Mississippi Kite, although the falcon is more powerful and less buoyant in flight. When close enough to see details, the Peregrine has a dark head and uniformly shaded wings, whereas Mississippi Kite has darker wingtips and pale patches in the secondaries.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 12, 2011Similar SpeciesNorthern Harrier
Adult male
Male Northern Harriers are much paler below than adult Mississippi Kites, and also show the harrier’s typical dihedral and white rump patch unlike kites.
© Tim Avery / Macaulay LibraryUtah, April 23, 2017Similar SpeciesNorthern Harrier
Immature
Female and young Northern Harriers can resemble young Mississippi Kites, but harriers have longer, less pointed wings, fly with their wings held in a V-shape (dihedral), and always show a white rump.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, February 21, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites(Order: Accipitriformes, Family: Accipitridae)
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