The specific epithet forficatus means “forked” or “scissor-like”, referring to the deeply divided tail.Īn earlier name used for this species was Falco carolinensis, proposed by English naturalist Mark Catesby in 1731 based on observations he made while traveling through Carolina Colony (modern day South Carolina). He based his description on a specimen collected from Cayenne, French Guiana. This species was first described by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae under the binomial name Falco forficatus. In addition, this raptor has particularly long legs for an accipitrid-a feature that aids it during flight as well as when perching atop slender branches deep within forests where it nests. The head appears small and triangular when compared to other accipitrids because it lacks facial tufts often seen on other raptors’ heads instead, there are two short crest feathers present year-round on both sexes. Its plumage is almost entirely white except on its black wingtips and the leading edge of each wing juveniles have dark brown wings until they molt into their adult plumage at around three years old. The males weigh an average of 680 g (24 oz), while females weigh up to 1,040 g (37 oz). The swallow-tailed kite measures 47–58 cm (19–23 in) in length with a wingspan averaging 122 cm (48 in). It is one of only two species in its genus, Elanoides its closest living relative is either the snail kite or possibly the band-tailed kite. The adult male has long streamers on the outermost feathers of its tail that can exceed 30 cm (12 in) in length these are much shorter in females and young birds. This bird gets its name from its deeply forked tail. It is also known as the American swallow-tailed hawk or simply the swallow-tail. It is endemic to the forests of the Atlantic coast of South America, from Venezuela and Colombia south to Brazil. The swallow-tailed kite is a raptor of the family Accipitridae. What is the Spiritual Meaning of Swallow Tailed Kite? The kite bird is also associated with the wind element and is often used in weather magic and divination.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |