The Story
I photographed this Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) at the Avian Reconditioning Center in Apopka, Florida, United States, in October 2020, showing its red eyes and smooth gray plumage. It is 30 to 37 centimeters long, with a wingspan of about 90 centimeters. It winters in South America, mostly in northern Argentina and southern Brazil, and migrates in groups of 20 to 30 birds, though flocks of up to 10,000 have been seen at Fuerte Esperanza, Argentina. It usually hunts from a low perch and eats its prey in flight. IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
I made this frame with a Pentax K-1 and the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6, at 1/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400. The center was founded by Carol, a certified veterinary technician who got her first rehabilitation permit in 1986, and Scott, a master falconer who now leads its flight demonstrations.
©2023 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) belongs to the family Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2024), with the population trend listed as increasing. Source: IUCN Red List