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Spring Migration: Swallow-tailed kites begin arriving in South Florida from their wintering grounds in Brazil and Argentina in mid-February.
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They move north towards the Panhandle within one to two weeks.
Some nest as far north as South Carolina and west to Louisiana. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Elanoides_forficatus/ -
Summer (Breeding and Staging)
They spend their summer breeding in the southeastern United States, nesting in large trees along swampy river systems. Before their migration south, they gather in large communal roosts, such as in Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Florida. These roosts serve as staging areas where they prepare for their long journey by resting and fattening up on food. -
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Fall Migration
Swallow-tailed kites begin their journey to return to South America in late July or early August. They move across the Gulf of Mexico and through Central and South America, finallyreaching their wintering grounds. Some kites follow the Gulf route, and some cross the Caribbean Sea. -
Winter Migration
Swallow-tailed kites spend the winter in South America, mostly in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swallow-tailed_Kite
https://www.bird.bot/guide/swallow-tailed-kite