FALCONS, HAWKS AND EAGLES Family Falcon- 



idae 



SWALLOW-TAILED KITE 

 327. Elanoides forficatus. 24 in. 



Tail long and deeply forked; plumage white, and 

 glossy black; feet short but stout; bill black, with 

 cere and feet bluish-gray. The flight of these birds 

 is very swift and swallow-like; at times they circle 

 about for long periods, on motionless wings; at others, 

 they will be seen swooping over marshes and low 

 ground; the evolutions they perform during the mating 

 season are wonderful to behold, floating, sailing, dou- 

 bling and turning, in all imaginable positions, as 

 though they were a part of the air itself. 



Notes. A shrill whistled " peet-peet." 



Nest. Composed of twigs, lined with moss and root- 

 lets; usually located in the tops of trees at great 

 heights; 90. to 125 feet from the ground not being 

 uncommon; eggs pale bluish-white, very handsomely 

 marked with brown. (1.85x1.5). 



Range. Breeds north to Virginia, Manitoba and Min- 

 nesota; winters south of the United States. 



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