Head black, plumage without the brownish cast of the Turkey Vulture.
Range. Eastern U.S., north to Virginia; an abundant Permanent Resident. Washington, casual, Mch., July, Dec.
The Vulture of southern cities; a frequenter of slaughter houses and markets. In flight the under surfaces of the wing look silvery. It is by no means so impressive a figure in the air as the Turkey Vulture. Two pale bluish white eggs, generally with brown markings, are laid on the ground under logs, bushes, palmettoes, etc., in March and April.
HAWKS, EAGLES, KITES, ETC. FAMILY BUTEONIDÆ
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE
Elanoides forficatus forficatus
The head and lower parts are white, the rest of the plumage glossy black; the tail deeply forked. L. 24.
Range. Florida to South Carolina, and up the Mississippi Valley rarely to Saskatchewan; winters south of the United States, returning in March.
Washington, three records, Aug.; Apl. SE. Minn., uncommon S.R., May 4.
Color, form, grace, and power of motion combine to make the flight of the Swallow-tail an impressive demonstration of the bird's mastery of the air. It feeds on lizards and small snakes which it captures when on the wing from the branches of trees. The nest is placed in the upper branches of tall trees, 2-3 eggs heavily marked with brown being laid in Florida in April; in Iowa in June.