Mississippi Kites are pretty.

[RickN]

Out doing some yard work this morning and down in the back corner of the yard is a big flowering bush thing. Doing some weed-eating under it and looked up. About 6 feet or so was a Mississippi Kite. It did not dive bomb me, or react in any way. Just sat there watching me work. I started talking to it to let it know I would not bother it if it did not bother me. Kind of cool seeing one that close. Looked just like this one.

 

[jakeman]

You got neighbors with chickens?

 

[okcBob]

Chickens are too big for these smaller type hawks. Eat mostly cicadas. We have about 10 or so nesting. Cool to watch them fly into trees for the bugs or catch them in mid flight with their feet.

 

[1911DA]

If you do they won't have chickens very long.........Kites are beautiful birds and graceful flying but they are born killers

 

[Steelers Fan]

We've watched as adult kites train their young. The two fly side by side with the adult purposefully crashing into tree as the younger, smaller circles the tree and clutches the cicadas spooked out opposite side in flight. They would do this repeatedly. Very Cool !!!

 

[bushmaster06]

If you do they won't have chickens very long.........Kites are beautiful birds and graceful flying but they are born killers

Birds of prey are born killers?

 

[bigred1]

I've got two sets out here at my place. One set on the east side and one set on the west side.....not a crow in sight.

 

[HillsideDesolate]

There is a nesting pair that returns to a tree in my neighbors yard. All the hummingbirds disappeared.

 

[tynyphil]

I always have 1 or 2 sitting in the tops of the cottonwood trees around my place whenever out mowing the tall pasture grass. They know I'll be sending some cicadas or locusts in the air for them to feast on.

 

[bigred1]

I just went out and took this picture. Amazes me they can sit in the tip top of a cedar tree.