Swallow-tailed Kites in Piedmont

Jessica Beohm and I found eleven Swallow-tailed Kites in Lamar/Spalding County (piedmont) in the summer of 2002. Many people came to see the birds. At the time this was considered one of the most unusual finds of the year. Oddly, though predictably, there was no mention of it in the field note publications. Over the last few years there have been more reports of them in the Piedmont, but they are still considered quite rare and even hard to find on the coast. - Eric Beohm

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Swallow-tailed Kites in Spalding County. At least two Swallow-taileds mixed in with about 50 Mississippi Kites, Aug 10, 2007. Eric Beohm

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I found five Swallow-tailed Kites (as well as 50+ Mississippi Kites) in Upson County (Piedmont Region of GA) on 07/29/2015.

- Eric Beohm

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Swallow-tailed Kite at Lake Hartwell 08/13/2015. Quite far north for this species. Note the long tail indicating this one is an adult.