Changes

===Subspecies===

===Subspecies===

Two subspecies are recognized, distinguished by the coloration of the back plumage. The northern subspecies bears a purple sheen and longer tail feathers, while the southern subspecies bears greenish to bronze back feather sheen.

Two subspecies are recognized, distinguished by the coloration of the back plumage. The northern subspecies bears a purple sheen and longer tail feathers, while the southern subspecies bears greenish to bronze back feather sheen.

*''Elanoides forficatus forficatus''; southeastern coastal United States to northern Mexico and Yucatan.

*''Elanoides forficatus forficatus''; southeastern coastal United States to northern Mexico and Yucatán.

*''Elanoides forficatus yetapa''; southern Mexico through Central America, south to eastern Bolivia, Paraguay and northeastern Argentina.

*''Elanoides forficatus yetapa''; southern Mexico through Central America, south to eastern Bolivia, Paraguay and northeastern Argentina.

==Range==

==Range==

The swallow-tailed kite is found over large parts of the Neotropic region and a small part of the Nearctic<ref>https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swallow-tailed_Kite/lifehistory</ref>. As late as the 19th century the species was breeding over much of the southeastern and central United States, from the coastal plains on the Gulf of Mexico north over much of the Mississippi river system to Minnesota.  Today, the United States breeding population is largely confined to the Florida Peninsula and the coastal plains of South Carolina and southeastern Georgia, with scattered populations on the Gulf coastlines from the Florida panhandle westward to Texas, then southward along the eastern coastline of Mexico to the Yucatan.  The species is rare north of Costa Rica and is almost absent on the Pacific coast.  Outside of breeding the birds may be sighted as far west as Colorado, and as far north as Canada.

The swallow-tailed kite is found over large parts of the Neotropic region and a small part of the Nearctic.<ref>https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swallow-tailed_Kite/lifehistory</ref> As late as the 19th century the species was breeding over much of the southeastern and central United States, from the coastal plains on the Gulf of Mexico north over much of the Mississippi river system to Minnesota.  Today, the United States breeding population is largely confined to the Florida Peninsula and the coastal plains of South Carolina and southeastern Georgia, with scattered populations on the Gulf coastlines from the Florida panhandle westward to Texas, then southward along the eastern coastline of Mexico to the Yucatán.  The species is rare north of Costa Rica and is almost absent on the Pacific coast.  Outside of breeding the birds may be sighted as far west as Colorado, and as far north as Canada.

The main area for the subspecies ''E. f. yetapa'' extends over the northern two-thirds of South America. The southern border runs through Ecuador and the northeastern part of Peru, includes the north and east of Bolivia and the west of Paraguay and runs through Rio Grande do Sul to the Atlantic. In addition, the area in the northwest and northeast reaches into Argentina. A southern enclave is located on the Río de la Plata in Uruguay and Argentina. In Colombia and Venezuela the species is missing in some parts of the country. It is relatively common on Trinidad.

The main area for the subspecies ''E. f. yetapa'' extends over the northern two-thirds of South America. The southern border runs through Ecuador and the northeastern part of Peru, includes the north and east of Bolivia and the west of Paraguay and runs through Rio Grande do Sul to the Atlantic. In addition, the area in the northwest and northeast reaches into Argentina. A southern enclave is located on the Río de la Plata in Uruguay and Argentina. In Colombia and Venezuela the species is missing in some parts of the country. It is relatively common on Trinidad.

The swallow-tailed kite is very sociable, and usually outside of the breeding season they form colonies of 10 to 50 birds in places with good food supply; the autumn migration may comprise several hundred birds.  Often, the colonies have within their numbers the [[plumbeous kite]]s (''Ictinia plumbea'').

The swallow-tailed kite is very sociable, and usually outside of the breeding season they form colonies of 10 to 50 birds in places with good food supply; the autumn migration may comprise several hundred birds.  Often, the colonies have within their numbers the [[plumbeous kite]]s (''Ictinia plumbea'').

Swallow-tailed kites often only emerge relatively late from their sleeping places (up to 2 hours after sunrise) and return shortly before or during the sunset. Especially in the morning, some time is dedicated to preening: the birds often sunbathe with outstretched wings and feathers, preening each feather with its beak, and shaking its body when done to clear and arrange the plumage, and sometimes this is down while in flight.  To engage in instant cooling, the birds will fly over the water and strike the surface with their abdomens in addition to taking in-flight drinks of water<ref>https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Elanoides_forficatus/</ref>.

Swallow-tailed kites often only emerge relatively late from their sleeping places (up to 2 hours after sunrise) and return shortly before or during the sunset. Especially in the morning, some time is dedicated to preening: the birds often sunbathe with outstretched wings and feathers, preening each feather with its beak, and shaking its body when done to clear and arrange the plumage, and sometimes this is down while in flight.  To engage in instant cooling, the birds will fly over the water and strike the surface with their abdomens in addition to taking in-flight drinks of water.<ref>https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Elanoides_forficatus/</ref>

==Diet==

==Diet==

The nest is usually relatively open and on very small branches at heights between 24 and 120 feet in the crown of a tree. In the USA, these are predominantly pine trees.  The nests are relatively small, up to two feet diameter, often only a thin platform, but usually about a foot high.  It consists of branches lined with beard lichen, pine needles, bark strips, Spanish moss or other soft plant material<ref>https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/swallow-tailed-kite</ref>. Both partners are involved in the construction.  

The nest is usually relatively open and on very small branches at heights between 24 and 120 feet in the crown of a tree. In the USA, these are predominantly pine trees.  The nests are relatively small, up to two feet diameter, often only a thin platform, but usually about a foot high.  It consists of branches lined with beard lichen, pine needles, bark strips, Spanish moss or other soft plant material<ref>https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/swallow-tailed-kite</ref>. Both partners are involved in the construction.  

The clutch usually consists of one to two, more rarely up to four eggs, creamy white to white in color, and speckled dark brown to reddish dark brown, and incubated for 28 to 31 days.  The male exclusively take part in hunting and feeding the female during the first half of the nesting period; afterward, both parents take active part in nesting and caring for the chicks, which are fledged between 35 t0 57 days<ref>https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swallow-tailed_Kite/lifehistory</ref>.

The clutch usually consists of one to two, more rarely up to four eggs, creamy white to white in color, and speckled dark brown to reddish dark brown, and incubated for 28 to 31 days.  The male exclusively take part in hunting and feeding the female during the first half of the nesting period; afterward, both parents take active part in nesting and caring for the chicks, which are fledged between 35 t0 57 days.<ref>https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swallow-tailed_Kite/lifehistory</ref>

==Threats==

==Threats==

There is no information available on the total population. In many places, the species is described as rather common, the stock trend is partially positive and although the increasing deforestation in South America has a negative impact, the swallow-tailed kite is apparently far less affected than other birds of prey. Due to the large range it is classified by the IUCN as "least concern".

There is no information available on the total population. In many places, the species is described as rather common, the stock trend is partially positive and although the increasing deforestation in South America has a negative impact, the swallow-tailed kite is apparently far less affected than other birds of prey. Due to the large range it is classified by the IUCN as "least concern".

In the United States, the population is estimated at 800 to 1,150 breeding pairs, or including non-breeders and current offspring to 3,200 to 4,600 individuals after the breeding season. The species was subject to a sharp decline here between 1880 and 1940, which led to its extinction in large parts of its original range. While previously found in the Mississippi Basin north to Minnesota and the southeastern coastal plains, most of the population is now confined to Florida and South Carolina; it is considered rare in the state of Georgia<ref>https://georgiabiodiversity.org/profiles/elanoides_forficatus.pdf</ref>. Some smaller occurrences exist in surrounding coastal states. Reasons for the decline were probably the increasing management and deforestation of flood plains and forests and to a lesser extent hunting<ref>http://www.globalraptors.org/grin/SpeciesResults.asp?specID=8089</ref>. Currently, the stock seems stable except for local variations.  Protective efforts are focused on preserving suitable habitats and nesting sites before the autumn migration<ref>https://issuu.com/arcinst/docs/meyer_-_conservation_and_management</ref>.

In the United States, the population is estimated at 800 to 1,150 breeding pairs, or including non-breeders and current offspring to 3,200 to 4,600 individuals after the breeding season. The species was subject to a sharp decline here between 1880 and 1940, which led to its extinction in large parts of its original range. While previously found in the Mississippi Basin north to Minnesota and the southeastern coastal plains, most of the population is now confined to Florida and South Carolina; it is considered rare in the state of Georgia.<ref>https://georgiabiodiversity.org/profiles/elanoides_forficatus.pdf</ref> Some smaller occurrences exist in surrounding coastal states. Reasons for the decline were probably the increasing management and deforestation of flood plains and forests and to a lesser extent hunting.<ref>http://www.globalraptors.org/grin/SpeciesResults.asp?specID=8089</ref>  Currently, the stock seems stable except for local variations.  Protective efforts are focused on preserving suitable habitats and nesting sites before the autumn migration.<ref>https://issuu.com/arcinst/docs/meyer_-_conservation_and_management</ref>

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Birds of Prey]][[Category:Kites]]

[[Category:Birds of Prey]][[Category:Kites]]