12 August 2025
On Friday 8 August Michele Beresh reported a swallow-tailed kite (Elanoides forficatus) flying over Palmer Park, Donora, Pennsylvania at 2pm.
Seen flying at a distance. It seemed shiny. Took photographs and zoomed in on digicam. No mistaking what it’s. Tried to observe to get higher photographs however misplaced it whereas driving.
— eBird report at Palmer Park, Donora, PA, by Michele Beresh, 8 Aug 2025
Her beautiful report was accompanied by a photograph, proven small under. Please see full measurement at this hyperlink: Macaulay Library asset 639995369.
On Saturday morning John Flannigan discovered it once more and Ron Burkert took photographs.
PA Lifer. First Washington County PA eBird file. Noticed John F returning to automotive and came upon he had simply refound the hen. It appeared past centerfield then drifted N. In a position to see and get overhead views from composting space simply past pipe gate from car parking zone. Medium-sized raptor white and black with DEEP V-shaped tail. Actively foraging, principally over forest, simply past Stan “The Man” Musial Subject. Quite a few photographs, together with some consuming prey whereas flying.
— eBird report at Palmer Park, Donora, PA, by Ron Burkert, 9 Aug 2025
I arrived at 2:15pm and watched from a park bench with a 180 diploma view. I knew the hen can be attempting to find dragonflies and I hoped for a view just like the one I noticed in Florida in 2015, picture at high by Chuck Tague. As an alternative I noticed:
Continuously flying. Distant! Fades within the haze till it wheels & reveals its physique form. It took me an hour to note it although it was in all probability there the entire time. Had a couple of good views by means of the scope.
— eBird report at Palmer Park, Donora, PA, Kate St. John, 9 Aug 2025
Yesterday astute County Listers found out they might stand in Gallatin Sunnyside Park in Allegheny County and see the hen flying over each counties. So now the swallow-tailed kite is recorded in Allegheny County, too. Sure it’s counted wherever the observer is standing.
Why is a swallow-tailed kite right here?
Swallow-tailed kites breed within the southeastern U.S. however that’s the northern fringe of their vary. They depart North America in July and early August to hitch the year-round inhabitants in South America.
Nevertheless, they’re recognized to wander although they often keep east of the Appalachians. Generally a kite will get as far north as Nova Scotia just like the one which was seen there on 18 June 2025 — however they sometimes don’t go to our space and factors west. This hen is sort of uncommon.
Late July by means of early August is peak migration for swallow-tailed kites, particularly by means of the Florida Keys the place they generally see a whole lot per day. Listed here are some latest reviews from hawkcount.org:
2 Aug 2025: Bocas Valle de Agua, Panama, 383 swallow-tailed kites, 216 plumbeous kites
3 Aug 2025: Florida Keys Hawk Watch, 311 swallow-tailed kites
8 Aug 2025: Florida Keys Hawk Watch. 145 swallow-tailed kites
10 Aug 2025: Florida Keys Hawk Watch. Unfavorable winds however nonetheless noticed 167 swallow-tailed kites
Quickly this native hen will head south … however we don’t know when.
For extra data:
