Swallow-tailed Kite
Swallow-tailed Kite has surged: up 359% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
About the Swallow-tailed Kite
The Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) is a North American member of the Hawks, Eagles & Kites (Accipitridae). In this analysis it is grouped with the birds of prey.
- Size
- 17.5–39.5 in long (45–100 cm) — a medium to large raptor (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Open country, woodlands, cliffs and wetlands, hunting from the air or a high perch.
- Diet
- Live prey — small mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and large insects (carrion for vultures).
- Range
- Recorded on 198 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 8 states, most concentrated in the Southeastern Coastal Plain.
- Family
- Accipitridae · Birds of prey
Notable Swallow-tailed Kite Trends
No notable trend signals for Swallow-tailed Kite. See the full index history below.
Swallow-tailed Kite Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, Swallow-tailed Kite is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.06 (95% range 0.04–0.07). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±18.3%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
| Year | Projected index | 95% low | 95% high |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.07 |
| 2026 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.07 |
| 2027 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.07 |
| 2028 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.07 |
| 2029 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.07 |
Where the Swallow-tailed Kite Is Detected
BBS routes recording Swallow-tailed Kite, sized by most recent count.
Swallow-tailed Kite Population Trend by State
| Alabama | +75% | 1988 | 22 |
| Florida | +455% | 1968 | 98 |
| Georgia | +506% | 1987 | 32 |
| Louisiana | -30% | 1992 | 19 |
| Mississippi | -33% | 1998 | 10 |
| North Carolina | insufficient data | n/a | 1 |
| South Carolina | +72% | 1996 | 10 |
| Texas | insufficient data | n/a | 6 |
Swallow-tailed Kite Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
| West Gulf Coastal Plain / Ouachitas | -49% | 2001 | 8 |
| Mississippi Alluvial Valley | -47% | 1992 | 8 |
| Southeastern Coastal Plain | +763% | 1977 | 111 |
| Peninsular Florida | +307% | 1968 | 64 |
Swallow-tailed Kite Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it up about 359% since 1968.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.