We've had a bunch of these flying around the small community I live in the last 4 days. Big beautiful birds. I had to look them up, I didn't know what they were at first. Seem to be a little piece out of their normal range. Was wondering if Fur knew anything much about them?

Oh my gosh! These are the coolest birds!! Two years ago, when I was bush -hogging a deer field, I had one stay with me the entire time. There were lots of grasshoppers and that dude ate his/her share and more during the tractor work. It flew above me, beside me and so close I could have reached out and touched it. At one point, I thought it was going to come right under the top over the Kubota. I felt like I got a special blessing that day. It was amazing.

Are you talking about a Swallow Tailed Kite? I'm thinking so. I don't know a ton about them. Even though they look a whole lot like a Hawk of some kind, they are primarily insect eaters, and yes you're way out of their normal range. The only time I've ever seen them is much closer to the Gulf. I have never seen one in Marshall county.

I believe they are one in the same. 1st time I ever remember seeing them around here. Father-in-law said he saw some when he was in the hay field last year.

There isn't a bird named a Kite Tailed Swift, so that's why I'm asking. Are they a crow sized, white and black bird, with a forked tail? If so, it's a Swallow Tailed Kite.

Agreed, Fur. That is what I thought he was asking about too. They are really cool, especially when you are in a field stirred up by tractor work. I dang near ran into the bushes twice when that Kite was flying all around me! 😂😂 it was so beautiful to watch.

They are Swallow Tailed Kites, beautiful birds....I see them a lot in MS on our lease.....it's primarily bottomland hardwood and some open ag fields and they love the habitat.....pretty cool just to watch them fly and catch insects......

Definitely Swallowed Tailed Kites. Not sure how I got that so jumbled up in my head. Lol. Could've swore that's what Google said 🤷🏻‍♂️ They've been amazing to observe from a distance, I can only imagine how awesome it would be to get out in a field with them.

Have to correct myself! The Kite that hung with me was a Mississippi Kite, not the Swallowtail. My bad.

Range Maps for both. Edited to have a more legible map; well I thought it was. Not sure why they are blurry.

These are for sure out of their normal range. We're in the Buck's Pocket area, Jackson Co. side.

Had one fly over a dove field two years ago near Mud Creek. Beautiful , graceful birds . A rare treat to see one up here.

I have a few that follow me when bush hogging. I catch myself pointing to the grasshoppers when they fly, like I’m pointing them out to the hawk 😁

See them all the time in central Florida. Probably the most common bird of prey I see.

Yep you’re definitely in their range. They aren’t a bird of prey though. They just eat bugs

Pretty common sight here in FL.

I think they are in the Raptor family and considered a bird of prey.......

Extremely cool bird. Pretty sure the ones down here feed on more than just bugs though. I know they have a bill that would make you think they catch more than bugs.

You’re both right. They are raptors and they don’t just eat insects. They eat lizards, snakes and small birds too. Just looked it up. I haven’t seen one in probably 20 years. Not since I moved back up here from Troy

Always cool to see them...