The Swallow-tailed Kite has been called “the coolest bird on the planet.” With its deeply forked tail and bold black-and-white plumage, it is unmistakable in the summer skies above swamps, mashes and large rivers of southern Florida. The Kite’s aerial acrobatics are a sight to see. It continually rotates its tail easily switching from a straight course to a tight turn in an instant as it scans for prey. Flying with barely a wingbeat and maneuvering with twists of its incredible tail, it chases dragonflies or plucks frogs, lizards, snakes, and nestling birds from tree branches. They usually ingest their food while flying with the exception of bringing sustenance to the nest. Aside from parental duties, they rarely perch during the day. These birds are simply creatures of the air, spending most of their day aloft circling fairly low over trees on the hunt. After rearing its young in a treetop nest coinciding with the end of summer, the kite migrates to wintering grounds in South America.