Mississippi Kite Ictinia mississippiensis (Wilson, 1811)    Synonyms: MIKI.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Aves   >   Order Accipitriformes   >   Family Accipitridae   >   Genus Ictinia   

Status:

Rare but increasing spring migrant that has become regular in late April and May. Increasing as a breeder in the northeastern U.S. and recently confirmed nesting in Maryland.

Where to find:

Fort Smallwood Park hawk watch in spring migration.

Relationships:

Aerial insectivore with an affinity for dragonflies. Like so many other bird species, takes advantage of Magicicada emergences.

There are 110 records in the project database.

View full eBird Range Map

View taxon at iNaturalist

View taxon at NatureServe

Search Google Images

Search MBP Facebook posts (beta | requires login)


[View seasonality details]
GA AL WA FR CL MO HO BA BC HA CE PG AA CV CH SM KE QA CN TA DO WI SO WO 
A Mississippi Kite in Howard Co., Maryland (5/29/2017). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

A Mississippi Kite in Howard Co., Maryland (8/1/2015). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Mississippi Kite in flight over Howard Co., Maryland (8/1/2015). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Mississippi Kite in Harford Co., Maryland (5/5/2016). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

A Mississippi Kite in Howard Co., Maryland (5/19/2019). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

A Mississippi Kite in Howard Co., Maryland (5/29/2017). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

Mississippi Kite with nesting material in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/17/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Mississippi Kite in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/19/2022). (c) Dave, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Dave via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Mississippi Kite on nest in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/14/2021). (c) Tim Frye, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tim Frye via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Mississippi Kite in Worcester Co., Maryland (5/24/2015). Photo by Mike Burchett. (MBP list)

A Mississippi Kite in Worcester Co., Maryland (5/24/2015). Photo by Mike Burchett. (MBP list)

Mississippi Kite on nest in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/14/2021). (c) Tim Frye, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tim Frye via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Mississippi Kite in Wicomico Co., Maryland (7/10/2008). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Mississippi Kite in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/22/2022). (c) Tim Frye, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tim Frye via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Mississippi Kite in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/19/2022). (c) rosalie-rick, all rights reserved. Photo by rosalie-rick via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Mississippi Kite in Worcester Co., Maryland (5/28/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A subadult Mississippi Kite soars over Fort Smallwood Park in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/11/2013). Photo by Mr. Chen. (MBP list)

Mississippi Kite in pursuit of prey in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/17/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Mississippi Kite in pursuit of prey in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/14/2021). (c) Gregg Petersen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Gregg Petersen via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Mississippi Kite in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/17/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Mississippi Kite in Worcester Co., Maryland (5/28/2015). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Mississippi Kite in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/20/2022). (c) Dave Roberts, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Dave Roberts. (MBP list)

Mississippi Kite in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/5/2021). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tom Feild. (MBP list)


View All Images

Use of images featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

View Bibliography