They arrive like rumors, whispered on spring wind. One moment the sky is empty. The next, a swallow-tailed kite is carving silent figure-eights over a pine flatwood, its wings catching the light like polished obsidian. With a forked tail like a swallow and a flight style like a ballet dancer trying not to wake the baby, this bird doesn’t just migrate — it floats back into Florida’s consciousness each year.
What it is
The swallow-tailed kite (Elanoides forficatus) is one of North America’s most striking raptors, a bird so elegant it looks almost imaginary. With stark black-and-white plumage, a wingspan pushing four feet, and a deeply forked tail it uses to steer with the precision of a drone pilot, the kite is instantly recognizable.
Each spring, they return to Florida from their wintering grounds in South America, often arriving in March or April. They nest in tall trees near rivers, swamps, or pinelands, raise a single brood, and by August — like a good houseguest — they’re gone.
They don’t hover. They don’t perch much. They seem to exist in near-perpetual flight, feeding on dragonflies, wasps, frogs, small snakes, and lizards, all snatched mid-air or mid-glide. In a state of squawking grackles and belching herons, the kite’s silence is part of the magic.
Where to See Them
Florida is their stronghold. Though they range across the southeastern U.S. in summer, the core breeding population concentrates in peninsular Florida, from the Panhandle down to the Everglades.
Some of the best places to see them include:
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (Gainesville)
An expanse of freshwater marsh, wet prairie, and open sky that swallow-tailed kites seem to love. Look for them soaring above the La Chua Trail in early spring. Paynes Prairie
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (Naples)
Managed by the Audubon Society, this protected forest of bald cypress and swamp is prime nesting habitat. The sanctuary’s boardwalk offers long views into the canopy — ideal for kite spotting. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Apalachicola National Forest (Panhandle)
For those in North Florida, this wild stretch of longleaf pine and titi thicket serves as a reliable migratory stopover.
Riverbend Park (Jupiter)
This mosaic of cypress sloughs and open meadow attracts foraging kites in spring and summer. You might see up to a dozen circling at once.
But truly, kites can appear anywhere near suitable habitat. I’ve seen one above a strip mall in Apopka. Another drifted over a gas station near Ocala. Their appearance often feels like a private miracle.
The Spring Gathering
By mid to late July, swallow-tailed kites begin forming pre-migration roosts — giant bird meetups where dozens, sometimes hundreds, will circle, forage, and rest before heading south. These roosts are often hidden but occasionally become public events for local birders.
One famous roost occurs annually near the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. Locals report the trees there vibrating with quiet feathers.
The kites time their departure perfectly. They ride thermals down the Mississippi Flyway or along the Gulf Coast, then cross the Caribbean and Andes Mountains in a migratory feat scientists still don’t fully understand.
Why it Matters
The return of the swallow-tailed kite is more than an avian curiosity — it’s a seasonal bellwether. A reminder that Florida still has pockets wild enough, calm enough, and high enough to welcome creatures who demand aerial quiet.
Kite numbers declined sharply in the 20th century due to deforestation and shooting. Today, they’re rebounding — cautiously — and remain listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Florida. Their presence is a health check for the landscape.
You don’t need to be a birder to feel it: the sensation that spring is truly here when that first black-and-white silhouette slices across the sky.
Here’s What I’d Do:
Grab a pair of binoculars and head to Paynes Prairie at 7:30 a.m. in mid-March. Walk out onto the open trail. Watch the sky instead of your feet. The first time I saw a kite there, it was dancing in slow circles above the prairie as mist lifted from the grass. A second kite joined. Then a third. I lost count. They don’t flap. They glide. And watching them is like borrowing someone else’s calm.
Directions + Official Sites
- Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is located south of Gainesville on US 441. Open 8 a.m. to sunset. Florida State Parks – Paynes Prairie
- Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is east of Naples and open daily. Corkscrew Audubon
Where to Stay
- Sweetwater Branch Inn (Gainesville) – A romantic bed-and-breakfast just 15 minutes from Paynes Prairie. Booking link
- La Quinta Inn & Suites Gainesville – Affordable, reliable, and pet-friendly. Booking link
- Hampton Inn Naples – I-75 – Close to Corkscrew Swamp, with early breakfast and strong AC. Booking link
Where to Eat
- The Top (Gainesville) – Classic Gainesville haunt with vegan and carnivore options, quirky decor, and craft beer. Tripadvisor
- The Local (Naples) – Farm-to-table Florida cuisine and a killer shrimp & grits. The Local Naples
Conclusion
The return of the swallow-tailed kite is Florida’s softest celebration of spring. No tickets. No stages. Just sky, silence, and grace on the wing. If you’ve forgotten how to look up, this bird will remind you. If you’ve lost track of the seasons, it will reset your clock. And if you’ve wondered whether wild beauty still lives in Florida — yes. It flies.
