Rare bird alert: Swallow-tailed kite lands in Will County

Fall bird migration is in full swing, and that means we can get some uncommon birds in the area. Most recently, that includes a swallow-tailed kite that has been spotted in Crete on Sunday. 

A photo of the bird was posted to the District's Will County Wildlife group on Facebook by Kara Senders Morales of Joliet. According to eBird maps, this is only the second time this bird has ever been reported in Will County. The previous sighting came in 2024 when one was spotted in and around Hadley Valley. 

This bird is far outside of its normal range considering swallow-tailed kites spend the summers in the southeastern United States, primarily in Florida, then migrate south to South America for the winter. These raptors have been described as "the coolest bird on the planet," and they are easy to identify due to their bold black-and-white plumage.

Swallow-tailed kites spend most of their time in flight, which can make them easier to spot. 

When in flight, they will continually flick and rotate their tails and can switch from flying straight to a tight turn while scanning for prey. Swallow-tailed kites also can roll and dive backward to catch an insect that's behind it. 

While they mostly eat flying insects, they also will grab tree frogs, snakes and nestling birds. They can also eat stinging insects, which they are able to do because they have thicker stomachs than other raptors. 

Morales, who is a member of the Will County Audubon Society, said on her post in the Will County Wildlife group, that she can tell this is a juvenile swallow-tailed kite due to its shorter tail and that juveniles are more likely to get lost when they are on their first migratory trip. 

So if you're out and about in the coming weeks, whether it's in a forest preserve or anywhere else, keep your eyes peeled, because you never know what surprises you may find.