Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Description:

Striking black-and-white coloring, with white head and body and black wings and tail. Long, thin, pointed wings and long forked tail.

Habitat:

Often seen flying over fields and small ponds. captures flying insects or plucks insects and lizards from the tops of trees.

Notes:

Interesting Fact: The Swallow-tailed Kite rarely flap its wings while flying, but it almost continuously rotates its tail, often to nearly 90 degrees, in order to hold a heading, make a sharp turn, or trace tight circles while drifting across the sky.