They often migrate in groups of 20 to 30, and usually arrive at their nesting sites in mid- to late April or early May. Additionally, individual nesting pairs may tend toward aggression and become persistent nuisance birds that gain attention but are not representative of the majority of nesting pairs. Behavior Most Mississippi kites probably winter in Argentina and Brazil. Our results suggest aggression by Mississippi Kites is uncommon, but infrequent events that gain local attention may increase the perceived risk from the species due to the availability heuristic. There was no difference in response to pass type, but we found evidence that responsiveness may be associated with nestling age.

Adult kites seldom fail to pair and attempt nesting (Glinski and Ohmart 1983, Parker 1988). Glinski and Ohmart (1983) also noted that nests within their study groups were spaced from 125 to 1,700 meters. We conducted 84 trials consisting of 252 passes and found 90% elicited no response from the attending kite, 8% elicited a flight response, and 2% elicited an attack. comm.), however, questions this claim stating that he has never seen clear territorial behavior in these kites. We also assessed responses in context of three types of pedestrian passes to nests. We assessed adult Mississippi Kite responses to experimental nest area intrusions during each week of the first four weeks of nestling development to explore increases or attenuation of aggressive behaviors.

However, the type of human pedestrian activity around nests may influence the occurrence of aggressive responses. Previous research found aggressive responses by kites in 16–20% of experimental passes under nests. Defensive behaviors include swoops at, and occasional physical contact with, humans who venture close to nests. These birds are known for their acrobatic flight, spending much of their time in the air sailing in the wind. Nest-defense behavior of Mississippi Kites in urban and exurban areas MaMississippi kites (Ictinia mississippiensis) have become an abundant raptor in many urban and exurban areas throughout the Southern Great Plains of the United States. Aggressive defense of nests has been noted among Mississippi Kites ( Ictinia mississippiensis), a raptor that has become a common and abundant urban nesting species across the Southern Great Plains. This habituation may result in a decreased wariness and secrecy near their nest and an increased inclination to engage in aggressive nest defenses. Previous research found aggressive responses by. Birds that have adapted to urban landscapes often display changes in their behavioral responses to human disturbance. Defensive behaviors include swoops at, and occasional physical contact with, humans who venture close to nests.

Mississippi kite behavior