Swallow-tailed Kite Photo Gallery

Slender and buoyant raptor with narrow, pointed wings and a deeply forked tail.

When perched, note long and slender look and long forked tail. The gleaming white head contrasts with its black back.

Graceful black-and-white raptor with long, forked tail. Wingbeats are smooth and slow. This is a slow-motion video.

Most often seen in flight soaring on thermals with little flapping. Captures and eats prey in flight.

A crisp black-and-white raptor with a deeply forked tail that soars gracefully over swamps, marshes, large rivers, and savannas with tall trees.

Feeds mainly on flying insects, which it catches and eats on the wing.

Juveniles look very similar to adults but have a slight buffy wash on their head and breast.

Roosts with other Swallow-tailed Kites in tall trees often near swamps or wetlands.

Sometimes gathers in flocks of 10–40 birds to feed on flying insects.

Builds nests of small sticks high in trees in open woodlands or swamps.