Kite Eating On The Fly
by Morris Finkelstein
Title
Kite Eating On The Fly
Artist
Morris Finkelstein
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
The Swallow Tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) is a raptor found in Central America, South America, and the southeastern United States. While much of the population found in South America remains there year round, many of these birds are migratory, with about 3% of the world population breeding in the United States. While the Swallow Tailed Kite is common in the southeastern states, it is an uncommon visitor in the Midwest. This adult Kite measures about 22 inches in length and about 15 ounces in weight. The contrasting black and white plumage, and the elongated forked tail are distinctive characteristics of this species. Preferred habitat includes wetland forests with loblolly pines and bald cypress. Preferred diet for the Kite includes large insects, small snakes and lizards, and small mammals. They typically eat while they are in flight. While their numbers are diminishing due to loss of habitat, they are not categorized by the US as "endangered"; they are however listed as endangered, threatened, and rare by the states of South Carolina, Texas, and Georgia respectively!
This Swallow Tailed Kite was reported in Alton, Illinois, over the past several days, just 35 minutes from my new home in St. Louis. When I viewed the Kite, it was hunting for dragonflies and grasshoppers in and on a grassy field. This photograph of a Swallow Tailed Kite eating a grasshopper while in flight was taken on the morning of 9-9-2019 with a Nikon D850 camera body and a Nikon 500mm f/4.0E FL ED VR lens. Settings: 1/1250 sec, f/6.3, ISO 320.
I am honored that my photograph was featured in the Fine Art America groups:
Birds In Focus, 9-13-2019
USA Photographers Only, 9-13-2019
FAA Portraits, 9-13-2019
FAA Portraits - Birds, 9-13-2019
Images That Excite You, 9-15-2019
10 Plus, 9-16-2019
Pure Nature Photography, 9-16-2019
Wild Birds Of The World, 9-16-2019
Kingdom Animalia, 9-17-2019
Animal Photographs, 9-23-2019
Wildlife One-A-Day, 9-28-2019
A Birding Group - Wings, 10-16-2019
Midwest America Photography, 10-21-2019
Nature Landmarks Landscape Wildlife, 11-17-2019
Photography And Nature 101, 12-18-2019
Birds In Flight, 12-19-2019
Five Star Artist, 1-7-2020
Go Take A Hike Photography, 3-21-2020
Predators Of The World, 9-3-2020
Gentlemen Club Art Group, 1-26-2021
Just Perfect, 1-31-2021
Wonder Of Wings, 4-20-2022
Your Very Best Photography, 4-26-2022
KEYWORDS: kite eating on the fly, swallow tailed kite, elanoides forficatus, kite, kites, hawk, hawks, raptor, raptors, bird of prey, birds of prey, bird, birds, avian, nature, natural, wild, wildlife, outdoors, wings, feathers, plumage, white, black, forked tail, swallow tailed, beauty, beautiful, graceful, striking, endangered, vulnerable, uncommon, migrant, migratory, migration, flying, flight, fly, foraging, forage, hunting, eating, grasshopper, insect, sky, one, field, midwest, midwestern, summer, alton, illinois, morris finkelstein, st. louis, missouri, photograph, digital, horizontal, portrait, action, close up, photography
Uploaded
September 10th, 2019
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