Rare Swallow-tailed Kites return to Kentucky skies
The first sightings in years have birders and researchers looking skyward in Jessamine County
Swallow-tailed Kites are increasingly rare in Kentucky, but in recent weeks, these striking birds of prey have been spotted along U.S. 68 in Jessamine County, marking the first reported sighting in the area in years. Recognizable by their deeply forked tails, narrow wings and bold black-and-white plumage, the birds have drawn significant attention from local birders and wildlife photographers.
A group of at least five kites was observed near Ramsey Farm, where they were hunting grasshoppers and other invertebrates that make up much of their diet. The sightings have attracted visitors from across the state eager for a glimpse of the rare raptors. They also provide valuable data for conservationists and researchers working to better understand the species’ movement patterns.
Swallow-tailed Kites migrate north in late February and early March to breed in the southeastern United States before eventually returning to the forests of South America. Occasionally, some birds overshoot their typical breeding range, appearing far beyond their usual territory. Small groups, known as “kettles” when seen circling together, have been reported as far north as New England.
This tendency to wander appears to be what brought the birds to Jessamine County. The area is serving as a temporary stopover where the kites can rest and refuel before continuing their long journey south.
According to Dr. D.J. McNeil, assistant professor of wildlife management at the University of Kentucky, such movements are not unusual.
“Swallow-tailed Kites have an interesting habit of moving broadly around the eastern U.S. in late summer, often turning up far from their current breeding range,” McNeil says.
