History, Distribution, and Reproduction by the Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) in Arkansas

Abstract

The Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) is a rare bird in Arkansas, and its historical populations are believed to have declined over much of the last century due to loss of bottomland hardwood forests and associated wetlands. However, sightings have increased in the recent 2 decades. By use of online sources for citizen science, we elucidate the current distribution of this bird in Arkansas, and comment on the status of reproduction. Swallow-tailed Kites arrive in Arkansas as early as March and remain to midSeptember, but numbers of reported sightings have a bimodal occurrence with peaks in May and August.