Each spring, the City of Carthage has unique winged visitors arrive. No, we are not speaking of the Capistrano swallows, but of the Mississippi Kite. Their arrival is unique because Jasper County, with Carthage sitting in the middle of the county, is the only area west of the Mississippi River these raptors inhabit for their breeding season in Missouri.
In Missouri, their breeding territory extends up the Mississippi River to the St. Louis area, and nowhere else but the Jasper County area.
The Mississippi Kite resemble a medium sized grey falcon, although they are from the hawk family. They are a migratory bird spending the winter months in Central America to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and migrate to breed mainly in the southern States of Texas to Florida with a large population in Oklahoma. Small, isolated areas do happen in a handful of other states, Missouri being one. Predominately insect eaters they will also swoop down for a small lizard or rodent if available. Thus, you can see why they need to migrate to warmer climates in the winter months where insects are abundant.
I have found many breeding pairs inside the city limits of Carthage. Each year the pairs and or possibly their offspring return to the same areas in town. You can find them near Buena Vista and 13th, near Skylark, Hillcrest Drive and the 1700 block of River. You will see what looks like a small hawk or falcon soaring in the sky almost at any hour of the day but often much lower near the tops of trees looking for large insects to feast upon. The Mississippi Kite need open areas to catch their food and are visible near large lots more so than a wooded lot. They have a distinct call much different than our local bird of prey. If you find one, you can approach the tree it’s sitting in, unlike most hawks and falcons, these birds will stay perched at the top and simply look down at you.
I had the pleasure of a pair nesting near my home but would rest high atop one of my trees a few years back. Being aware of many types of falcons and hawks in Southwest Missouri, I had not seen these birds in the past, and an interest was struck. Hearing their call got my attention as it is not like a songbird but also not a shriek or shrill sound like our Red-tailed Hawk or Coopers Hawk we have here. I am not a ‘birder’ but having these special birds inhabit our area specifically got my attention and my following. Often, I walk or run near where pairs nest, and when I see them, I make an attempt to mimic their call. I have to imagine when they look down, they are silently laughing at my attempts.
You might want to keep an eye out when walking in your neighborhood for these beautiful grey flyers. Carthage is blessed with so many unique things, and the Mississippi Kite is one of them.
