Rare Swallow-Tailed Kite Spotted In Will County

WILL COUNTY, IL — Bird watchers in Will County should keep their eyes to the sky as fall migration brings some rarely-seen birds to the area.

According to the Forest Preserve District of Will County, a swallow-tailed kite has been spotted in and around Hadley Valley in Will County.

A photo of the swallow-tailed kite was posted to the District's Will County Wildlife group on Facebook on Monday by Kara Senders Morales. According to eBird maps, this bird has never before been reported in Will County.

The preserve said that swallow-tailed kites spend the summers in the southeastern United States, primarily in Florida, then migrate south to South America for the winter. The birds are easy to spot due to their bold black-and-white plumage.

When in flight, they will continually flick and rotate their tails and can switch from flying straight to a tight turn while scanning for prey, the preserve said. Swallow-tailed kites also can roll and dive backward to catch an insect that's behind it.

The bird will mostly eat flying insects, but they also will grab tree frogs, snakes and nestling birds, the preserve said. They can also eat stinging insects, which they are able to do because they have thicker stomachs than other raptors.

Swallow-tailed kites spend most of their time in flight, which can make them easier to spot.

The preserve said that other rare birds seen in the area include a cinnamon teal, great kiskadee, painted bunting, red-throated loon and black-legged kittiwake. Birds can make their way far outside their range for a variety of reasons. They can be thrown off course by weather, or they may be first-year birds that have migrated in the wrong direction.