The Swallow-tailed Kite is a raptor found in the southeastern U.S. and winters in South America. It preys upon flying insects and small vertebrates, such as lizards and snakes, found in the tops of trees. They are distinguished by a striking pattern of white on black and their forked tail. Gregarious in all seasons, this kite inhabits forested wetlands of the south.
ACJV staff and partners work to protect large expanses of these wetland habitats for breeding, foraging, and pre-migration staging roosts. Kite conservationists from the southeast U.S. recently completed a rangewide survey for Swallow-tailed Kites, and the result indicate that there may be double the number of kites originally thought to inhabit the U.S.