Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus forficatus) 11 April 2009, Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. A pair of these spectacular, graceful kites were gathering nesting material (Spanish Moss) near the refuge headquarters. The range of this species has contracted markedly in the last century. It formerly bred regularly as far north as Minnesota. Currently, the core of its breeding is peninsular Florida with isolated, outlying populations north to South Carolina and west to east Texas. Recent recolonization in some peripheral areas is encouraging. The US breeding population is entirely migratory, wintering in South America. This is the more northerly nominate race which differs slightly from a smaller race in Mexico south to South America. This photo shows the black lesser coverts contrasting with the gray wings which it shares with the White-tailed Kite. However, recent genetic studies indicate that Swallow-tailed Kite may be more closely related to several Old World species than it is to the somewhat similar White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus). Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Nikon FieldScope 3 | 30X WA | hand-held (no adapter).