Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2025-08
| Common name: |
Mississippi Kite |
| Scientific name: | Ictinia mississippiensis |
| Date: | 8/15/2023 |
| Time: | 3:00 PM |
| Length of time observed: | 5 min. |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Juvenile |
| Sex: | Unkown |
| Location: | Castle Valley, Utah |
| County: | Grand |
| Latilong: | (38.650624, -109.400954) |
| Elevation: | 4,774 feet |
| Distance to bird: | 100 feet |
| Optical equipment: | Camera + zoom lens (Canon EOS Rebel T3i + Sigma 150-600 C) |
| Weather: | cloudy |
| Light Conditions: | Overcast |
| Description: Size of bird: | Medium-large |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | sleek, pointed wings, short head/neck, long tail |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | gray on top, streaked brown underneath with black and white banded tail |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Hooked |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Smallish/medium-sized raptor. Long, tapered wings, short outer primary,
heavily streaked belly, and long banded tail. (Photo) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Did not vocalize. Seen as it was flying by, traveling west. |
| Behavior: | Flew pretty much in a straight line, like it was headed somewhere. Didn't dally at all, very short observation. |
| Habitat: | Open, fallow agricultural field |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Separated from all hawk species by sleek body and long, pointed wings. Separated from falcons and other Kites by undertail pattern (Tail bars too thick for any of our falcon species) |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
5+ years of experience identifying Mississippi Kites, but not much in the way of separating similar species since none really live in my area. |
| References consulted: | National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America (7th edition), Macaulay Library, Whatbird Community Forum |
| Description from: |
From memory From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Sean Cowden |
| Observer's address: | 1270 E 90th ave N. Belle Plaine, KS, 67013 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | None |
| Date prepared: | 3/1/2025 |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: | See photo. Only edit made was raising the shadows to show field marks. Pretty diagnostic. |