First Record of Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) for British Columbia. Published: November 23, 2024. By Rick Toochin.

The Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) is an elegant raptor that found breeding in the southern United States with an eastern population that breeds in South Carolina (throughout the upper and lower coastal plains but absent from northeast coast), Georgia (southern half of state), Florida (panhandle and northern peninsula south to Levy, Alachua, and Marion Counites), Alabama (all areas except for portions of north and northeast), Mississippi (west and southeast), Louisiana (north and east), and Arkansas (south and east); Allan and Sime 1943, James and Neal 1986, Robertson and Woolfenden 1992a, McNair and Post 1993b, Stevenson and Anderson 1994b, Davis 1995b). Breeding extends north through the Mississippi River valley to include western Tennessee, eastern Missouri, and southwestern Illinois (Bohlen 1989, Robbins and Easterla 1992, Nicholson 1997b), and west along the Red River valley to include extreme southeastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas (Parker 2020).

There is also a Great Plains population that breeds in the Texas Panhandle and north-central Texas, west and central Oklahoma (east to Tulsa and Stephens Counties), south-central Kansas (south of Arkansas River) and eastern Colorado (Baca County and Arkansas River valley east of Pueblo); (Thompson and Ely 1989, Andrews and Righter 1992, Baumgartner and Baumgartner 1992, Parker 2020).

This species also breeds in the southeastern coastal plain of Texas east and west of the Brazos River, in the lower Pecos River valley of New Mexico (Roswell south), the lower Rio Grande valley of New Mexico and adjacent portions of Texas (Albuquerque south to El Paso), in the San Pedro River valley of southeastern Arizona (Pinalas and Cochise Counties) and at scattered other locations in Arizona just south of the Mogollon rim (Hubbard 1978c, Glinski 1998, Parker 2020).

Outside of this area the Mississippi Kite is more isolated, but persistent breeding has occurred in northeastern Virginia (yearly since 1995, 1 pair with subadult in Woodbridge) (Iliff 1997b, Parker 2020), in North Carolina (>35 individuals in Hartford, Northampton, and Scotland Counties) (Legrand and Lynch 1973, Bolen and Flores 1993), southwestern Indiana (3+ pairs annually since 1992 in Pike and Spencer Counties)(Castrale et al. 1998a), central Illinois (suspected) (Bohlen 1989), central Iowa (near Des Moines (Walsh 1996), southwestern Missouri (1 pair in Newton County)(Herbert 1994), Nebraska (5+ adults near Keith (Grzybowski 1995c, Grzybowski 1995b, Grzybowski 1996), and in northeastern Colorado (Kingery 1995).

The Mississippi Kite is a long-distance migrant that completely leaves North America to regions, largely unknown, in central or south-central South America (Parker 2020).

There are no known differences in migratory pathways, schedules, or habitats between eastern and western populations once individuals converge in the extreme south-central United States for their departure from breeding grounds and it seems unrelated to prey availability, but in response to photoperiod (Parker 2020). 

Most fall migration in North America occurs late August-mid-September as small post-breeding flocks wander and combine (Wheeler 2003). Extended flocks approach and exceed 1,000 individuals in southern Texas in late August-early October (Parker 2020), and most kites are south of United States by mid-October (Parker 2020). Commonly a few individuals stay late with the latest dates including South Carolina October 23 (Post and Gauthreaux 1989); Missouri October 27 (Robbins and Easterla 1992); Arkansas by mid- to late October (James and Neal 1986); Florida by early November (Stevenson and Anderson 1994b); Oklahoma October 25 and 28 (Baumgartner and Baumgartner 1992); and Kansas, October 29 (Thompson and Ely 1989). Most records show individuals on various southward vectors in United States until entering Mexico (Parker 2020). The very few records for this species in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida in December-February probably indicate late and early stragglers (Parker 2020).

No known variation in rates of movement between individuals of eastern and western populations, nor between sexes, nor between adults and juveniles, although yearlings may leave nesting areas before the adults (Evans 1981b). Juveniles are often observed in post-breeding and migratory flocks (Parker 2020).

There is little evidence that Mississippi Kites normally migrate from United States other than through Mexico; rare records for Yucatán Peninsula (Howell and Webb 2010) are inconclusive. Late-fall (October) and early-May occurrences in Florida likely indicate "lost" birds, rare aberrant travel over Gulf of Mexico, or at most a regular pathway for a very small number of individuals (Parker 2020). Major migration corridor extends from Mexican coastal lowlands of Gulf of Mexico to Isthmus of Tehuantepec (Parker 2020). In late August-mid-September 1992 and 1993, Mississippi Kite was one of 3 abundant migratory raptors near Veracruz, Mexico (Parker 2020) with >11,000 and nearly 48,000 individuals counted, respectively (Parker 2020). By 1998 the count approached 200,000 (Parker 2020). Some individuals may travel inland or even along Pacific lowlands. Farther south, kites continue to disperse coast-to-coast in response to suitable foraging and roosting habitat, probably avoiding higher elevations (Howell and Webb 2010). There are only a few banding recoveries, and sight and specimen records, exist for both slopes of Costa Rica (Stiles and Skutch 1989), Panama (Ridgely and Gwynne 1989), and elsewhere in Central America, from September and October (Eisenmann 1963c, Parker 1977b, Parker 2020).

In South America, individuals travel rapidly, east of Andes foothills to at least Amazonian lowlands at Manaus in Brazil (Stotz et al. 1992, Whittaker et al. 2008). This species is found in October in Colombia, Peru, and Paraguay; into and south of Amazonia by November, but also by September in Bolivia (Eisenmann 1963c, Olrog 1967b, Parker 1977b, Terborgh et al. 1984, Shaw and Maxwell 1988, Davis 1989b, Hayes et al. 1990, Stotz et al. 1992). Most individuals are south of Bolivia from mid-November to March (Blake 1949b, Eisenmann 1963c, Davis 1989b, Hayes et al. 1990).

In the Spring a there a few individuals in March in Paraguay, Bolivia, Panama, and Honduras; mid-March-April in Panama (Wetmore 1965b, Davis 1989b, Ridgely and Gwynne 1989, Hayes et al. 1990, Parker 2020); early May in Costa Rica (Stiles and Skutch 1989). Large numbers passed near Veracruz in early-mid-Apr 1991 (>3,500) and 1994 (>18,500) (Parker 2020), and late April into early May (Eisenmann 1963c, Thiollay 1979). Leading northbound kites pass early and rapidly; a few individuals in Texas, Florida, Colorado, and Oklahoma in early March (Parker 2020). Small numbers of individuals reach northernmost and easternmost areas of breeding range, as well as extralimital locations, by late April (Parker 2020). Reestablishes nesting populations throughout breeding range mainly from late April into early May (Parker 2020). Individuals nesting near each other do not all arrive together; yearlings tend to arrive later than adults (Hardin et al. 1977, Evans 1981b, Shaw 1985, Parker 2020).

Mississippi Kites travel in loose flocks at relatively low elevations (25-100 m), occasionally skimming the canopy, which permits casual foraging, but often much higher; small flocks aggregate to hundreds or thousands prior to passage through southern Mexico (Parker 1988a, Parker 2020). This species will respond to strong winds that follow weather fronts, which can produce flocks of at least 250 early in migration (Eubanks 1971). Often large migratory flocks (ex: 200-300) remain in or near roosts during mornings or other periods of little wind and other inclement weather (Wolfe 1967). Forage from roost moving in and out of area, sometimes "leapfrogging" in direction of migration over other roosting kites (Wolfe 1967, Davis 1989b, Parker 2020).

The winter range of the Mississippi Kite is poorly known (Parker 2020). During boreal winter, known outside of Unites States from only 1 record each for December, January, and February from northeastern Argentina and Paraguay (Blake 1949b, Eisenmann 1963c, Terborgh et al. 1984, Hayes et al. 1990). No Central American records (Parker 2020). Considering migration dates for late fall and early spring in Northern Hemisphere species may be resident only briefly, or nomadic during boreal winter (Parker 2020).

There a very few winter reports for United States, and most are unverified; 3 records of single individuals in February in over 48 years in South Carolina (Post and Gauthreaux 1989), and 10 of individuals from late December to early March in over 80 years in Florida (Stevenson and Anderson 1994b). Single individuals in Louisiana for the months of December and February (Bolen and Flores 1993).  February records may represent early spring arrivals (Parker 2020).

In northeastern North America, outside of this species breeding range, overshoots have turned up throughout United States into eastern Canada (e-bird database 2024). Records in Canada extend westward with multiple records from Manitoba, and a single record from Saskatchewan (e-bird database 2024). There are records in the mid western United States that extend as far north as Montana and North Dakota (e-bird database 2024). Along the west coast of North America this species is a vagrant species. In California there are 53 accepted records by the California Bird Records Committee (Hamilton et al. 2007, Tietz and McCaskie 2020). There are no records for Oregon or Washington (OFO 2022, WBRC 2022, e-bird database 2024).  There are recent single records for Alaska and Yukon (e-bird database 2024). The Mississippi Kite is an accidental migrant vagrant species in British Columbia with a recent photographed record from southern tip of Vancouver Island (e-bird database 2024).

 

The Identification of the Mississippi Kite is covered in all standard North American field guides. This species is so distinctly different to any commonly occurring raptor in British Columbia that identification should be straight-forward.

The Mississippi Kite is mid sized raptor measuring 30-37 cm in length, with a wingspan of 74-89 cm, and weighing 280 grams (Sibley 2000, Dun and Alderfer 2011, Wheeler 2018).  There is no known variation throughout breeding range and is monotypic (Wheeler 2018). The Mississippi Kite likes to hunt on the wing for large insects (Wheeler 2018).

The following criteria for ageing and identifying the Mississippi Kite is taken directly from Wheeler (2003).

 

HEAD: Large black lore spot in front of the eyes. BODY: Short, thick tarsi and toes. WINGS: When perched, wingtips extend somewhat beyond the tail tip. In flight, wings are very long and narrow, with parallel front and trailing edges on the secondaries, and taper to pointed wingtips. In soaring flight, outermost primary (p 10) is distinctly shorter than longest primaries (p8 and-p9). However, when gliding, p10 is usually concealed by the overlapping longer primaries. When perched, secondaries are nearly covered by the greater coverts. 

TAIL: Square-tipped. When closed, tail is notched, and on males, it is often forked. Outer rectrix  flares slightly outward on the outer feather edge.

 

Adult: HEAD: pale grayish or whitish; throat is white. Dark gray bill and cere- The cere can be pale gray. Red irises. BODY: Tarsi and toes are typically gray on the upperside and yellowish orange or orange on the underside, except on the upper tarsi, which may be bright orange. Toes and tarsi are occasionally orangish on the upperside. Medium gray underparts and dark bluish-gray. upperparts. WINGS: Upper surface of secondaries are very pale gray but appear white at a distance. A white bar on the trailing edge of secondaries is apparent on the underwing when in flight. Pale upper surface of secondaries is most visible from above in flight. Secondaries appear as a narrow pale gray bar when perched; however, they are often covered by the greater coverts and are barely visible. Primaries are black on the upper surface and dark gray on the undersides and may have a variable amount of rufous on both the inner and outer webs. TAIL: AII black on upper surface.

 

ADULT MALE: HEAD: pale gray or very pale-gray and often appears white at a distance; palest on crown. BODY.: Uniformly pale-gray underparts. Lower belly and undertail coverts are the same color as the breast, belly, and flanks. Upperparts are uniformly dark

bluish gray. Scapulars occasionally have a small white spot on the basal region of some feathers. WINGS: pale gray dorsal surface of the secondaries remains unchanged throughout the year. Underwing coverts are uniformly gray. TAIL: Uniformly black on the undersides. Quills on the outermost set of rectrices (16) are either black or white only on the very basal region.

 

ADULT FEMALE: HEAD: Medium gray, but sometimes pale gray. Medium gray-headed individuals often have a discernibly pale, whitish forehead, supercilium, and throat. BODY: Medium gray or sometimes pale-gray underparts. Lower belly is either (1) the

same gray color as the rest of the underparts or (2) white and appears as a fairly-large white patch, which is most visible in flight as a white patch ahead of the tarsi and feet. Underparts may have small white spots on basal region of many feathers on the belly and flanks (and appear much like a subadult). Upperparts are very dark bluish gray with a brownish cast. Scapulars often have white spots on basal region of some feathers. Undertail coverts (l) are white with a gray mark on the tip of each feather and appear spotted, blotched, or barred; (2) may be all white; or (3) are solid gray like the rest of the underparts. WINGS. The pale grayish sheen may wear off on the dorsal surface of the secondaries and become medium grayish or brownish gray. Underwing coverts often have pale speckling. TAIL. Quills of the outermost rectrix set (16) are white their entire length. There are two main variations of undertail patterns: (l) pale type is pale gray on the inner three-fourths or four-fifths of each feather of the outer rectrix set with dusky or black tips on the distal one-fourth or one-fifth; all other rectrices are solid black. Thil appears to be pale gray with a moderately wide darker terminal band when closed. Note: Common pattern. (2) Black type Undertail is uniform black (the quills of outermost rectrix set are still all white). Note: Fairly common pattern.

 

ADULT FEMALE (BAND-TAILED TYPE): Two adult females with partial narrow white tail bands and one with a fully banded tail (with extensive rufous in the primaries) were photographed in Lamar, Colorado, in 1999 and 2000; a fully banded type was also seen in June 2001 and photographed in August 2002, at the same location. Plumages of these birds were otherwise like typical adult females. It is unknown if this unusual pattern exists throughout the entire population. Note: A rare plumage and easily confused with subadults, and easily overlooked as an adult plumage variation.

 

BASIC I (SUBADULT l) TRAITS: Bill, cere, eyes, and feet are like adult's. Back and scapulars are primarily adultlike. Head, body, and undertail coverts are also like the respective adult sex. During typical residence in the United States (May-September), transformation to adult-like plumage occurs in replacing most retained old rufous or brown juvenile feathering on the breast, belly, flanks, and upperwing coverts. Transition to adult plumage is partial on underwing coverts, primaries, and tail while in the United States. Transition of scapulars and upperwing coverts to adult plumage is mainly complete. Secondaries are primarily retained, worn brown juvenile feathers. The old, tattered juvenile secondaries are uniformly brown at all times because the grayish sheen on the upper surface and white trailing edge of fresh juvenile plumage are worn off. Subadults have the same four underwing and three undertail patterns described in Juvenile Traits until partially altered by molt.

 

BASIC (SUBADULT; LATE STAGE): HEAD: As on respective sex of adult. BODY: Underpartsacquire the adultlike gray color; however, some retain a few remnant juvenile rufous or brown markings on the underparts. Some females exhibit white spotting on underparts and both

sexes can have scattered white spots on the scapulars. WINGS: Upperwing coverts are primarily adultlike dark bluish gray. Greater secondary coverts are new adult feathers and, like adults, are often a slightly paler gray than the median and lesser coverts. Underwingcoverts are predominantly or totally adult-like gray, except the greater coverts, which are retained mottled or spotted brown or rufous juvenile feathers. New adult inner primaries are steadily acquired during this stage. New dark grayish or blackish primaries have crisply delineated, thin white tips and contrast sharply to the faded, worn, brown outer juvenile primaries. Since newly molted feathers are adult feathers, and many adults exhibit rufous markings on several primaries, many subadults have a rufous tinge on the several newly acquired primaries. Several new primaries project beyond the tertials when perched and are quite visible when perched and in flight. Secondaries are retained brown-colored juvenile, except the outermost (sl), as well as the three tertials, which molt into adult pale gray feathers. TAIL: Deck rectrix set (rl ) and outermost rectrix set (16) often molt to adult blackish feathers while in the United States. A few acquire only adult rectrices on the deck set (rl) while in the United States. Note: When perched and viewed from the front, late-stage females with partially banded or unbanded types look similar to adult females.

 

BASIC (SUBADULT; EARLY STAGE): HEAD: As on respective sex of adult. BODY: (l) Underparts regularly retain up to 50 percent rufous or brown streaked and barred, pale-edged, remnant juvenile ventral feathers. Many have white streaks and blotches on the breast, belly.,

and flanks. These white areas are caused by pale edges of the retained juvenile feathers, gaps of missing feathers, and, on some females by white basal areas of new adult feathers. Mottled juvenile-mixed underparts may be retained into the fall. (2) Underparts may also be

solid, adultlike gray on some individuals, even in May. WINGS: (I) Upperwing coverts ma, be nearly full adult; (2) most upperwing coverts are adult-like with a few retained brown juvenile feathers intermixed; or (3) upperwing coverts may be mainly retained brown juvenile

feathers with a few grayish adult feathers intermixed. Greater upper covert tract is primarily brown juvenile feathering; however, the inner half of the tract can be replaced with adult gray in the early part of this stage. Large white blotches are often present on the innermost

greater coverts and tertials because previously overlapping feathers are temporarily lost due to molt. Underwing coverts are retained rufous or brown juvenile feathers; however, they are sometimes mixed with adult gray feathering. Axillaries obtain the adultlike gray before the rest of the underwing coverts. Newly acquired inner primaries are dark grayish or blackish adult feathers with crisply edged white tips. New adult primaries are not readily visible when perched, as there are only a few of them and they are covered by the long tertials; however, the new dark feathers are highly visible in flight. A variable-sized gap often occurs on the inner primaries with dropped, but not quickly replaced, new primaries from mid-Jun. to mid-July. Up to four primaries may be dropped before new adult replacements come in. Sincenewly molted feathers are adult feathers, and many adults exhibit rufous markings on several primaries, many subadults have a rufous tinge on the few newly acquired primaries. TAIL: FuIly-retained on juvenile birds.

 

BASIC (SUBADULT; YERY EARLY STAGE): HEAD: As on respective sex of adult. BODY: Underparts are mainly adult-like gray on the breast, but the belly and flanks can be 50-100 percent retained juvenile streaking. The grayish head (especially on females) and breast, contrasting with the pale belly and flank area on birds that were paler type juveniles, may create a hooded appearance. Upperparts are primarily retained, worn and faded brown juvenile feathers on the scapulars, the back region is partially adultlike gray. WINGS: Upperwing coverts are mostly retained brown-colored juvenile with few, if any, gray adult feathers. Underwing coverts are fully retained juvenile feathers, including the axillaries. There is some molt on the inner primaries, but with few adult replacements. TAIL: Retained juvenile of any of the three variations. NOTE: Only small number of birds are in this barely molted first pre-basic molt stage in May and June.

 

JUVENILE TRAITS: HEAD: Grayish-streaked head lacking a dark malar mark); short, broad, white supercilium. Black lore area. Iris color is medium brown. Yellow cere. BODY: (ventral). Variable-width rufous or brown streaking on white or tawny breast and belly. The flanks are typically barred. There are three variations of underpart markings on the breast, belly, and flanks. (1) Narrowly streaked type: Narrow streaking with dark areas being less than 50 percent of feather width. Note: Common pattern. (2) Moderately streaked type:

Moderately wide dark streaking being 50 percent of feather width. Note: Common pattern. (3) Broadly streaked type: Each feather is mainly dark with a very narrow pale outer edge. At a distance, underparts may appear nearly uniformly rufous or brown. Note: Uncommon pattern. BODY (dorsal). Dark brown upperparts have very narrow white or tawny edgings on the scapulars. Scapulars also have large white area on the basal region of most feathers, creating a spotted or blotched appearance when fluffed. Tarsi and toes are yellow throughout but may be brownish or grayish on upperside of the toes (as in older ages). WINGS: Prominent white bar on the trailing edge of the secondaries. Dorsal surface of secondaries has a pale grayish sheen. Underwing coverts vary from being solid rufous or brown to mottled rufous or brown. White markings on undersides of the remiges are highly variable; there are four major variations. (l) All-dark type: All remiges are solid dark gray. Note: Common pattern. (2) Moderate white type: Some white on inner primaries (p1-3) and basal area of the outermost primary (p10). Note: Common pattern. (3) Extensive white type: Basal region of all primaries is white and forms a large white panel. Note: Common pattern. (4) Very extensive white type: Basal region of all primaries and a narrow band of basal region of all secondaries are white. An extensive amount of white forms a very large white panel on the primaries and a broad white linear area on the basal region of the secondaries. Note: Uncommon pattern. TAIL: White terminal band is very narrow or absent. This is mostly solid brownish black on dorsal surface: when fanned, partial white banding, if present, may show on inner webs of rectrices. Ventral surface of tail is dark gray with a moderately wide darker terminal band. Undertail pattern has three major variations: (l) Banded type: Three or four complete, narrow white bands on all rectrices. White bands are visible at all times. Darker terminal band is sometimes distinct. Note: Common pattern. (2) Partially banded type: One or two narrow white bands on the basal area of inner rectrices. Outer one or two rectrix sets are often unbanded. Since inner rectrices are overlapped and hidden by outer rectrices when the tail is closed, undertail appears unbanded on a closed tail. White bands are typically visible only when tail is fanned. However, sometimes a faint, narrow white band may be present on the inner web of the basal region of outer rectrix set, and visible when tail is closed. Wide dark terminal band is very distinct. Note: Fairly common pattern. (3) Unbanded type: Undertail lacks any definition of white bands, and the wide dark terminal band is distinct. Note: Uncommon to rare pattern.

 

JUVENILE (HEAVILY MARKED TYPE): HEAD: As on "typical” BODY.-Upperparts as on typical juveniles Underparts are the broadly streaked type. WlNGS: Undersides of remiges are consistently the all-dark type. Tall: Undertail patterns are either the partially banded type or unbanded type.

The Mississippi Kite is an accidental migrant vagrant to British Columbia and was only recent added to avifauna list of the province (Toochin and Cecile 2024). The first record was a 2nd year bird that was found and photographed by David Bell, Mark Byrne, Caitlin Acquroff, and Katelyn Fryer at Rocky Point Bird Observatory on September 6, 2024 (). Detailed photographs of this bird can be found at https://ebird.org/checklist/S194202235. This bird was likely the same bird that was photographed a month earlier by Karen Johnson in Sitka in southeastern Alaska on July 28, 2024 (E-bird database 2024). Photos of this bird can be found at https://ebird.org/checklist/S189309547.  Incredibly there is an immature photographed by Marty Samis from Haines Junction in the Yukon on June 17, 2022 (e-bird database 2024) Further demonstrating how far out of range wandering birds can travel. Photographs of this bird can be found at https://ebird.org/checklist/S114168619. 

The recent British Columbia record fits the pattern of vagrancy perfectly for this species in North America. Most vagrant records involve younger birds that wander widely (Wheeler 2003). Though British Columbia is very far out of range, the Mississippi wanders in the spring from mid-May into mid-June throughout Northeastern North America States and Provinces with records extending into the Great Plains (Wheeler 20023, e-bird database 2024). Further vagrancy records extend into the Prairie Provinces and the mid western states with some spring but with many fall records occurring in the months of July through to September (Wheeler 20023, e-bird database 2024).  Making a future record in British Columbia always possible and keen observers should be on the look out for this species at all hawk watch locations around the province. 

I wish to thank Don Cecile for editing the original manuscript.

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