Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis), Yuma East Wetlands, Yuma County

This Mississippi Kite was found and photographed by Bobby Wilcox on 31 May 2016

Although this species expanded its range in Arizona through the 1970s and 80s, it has been casual in recent years outside of a few areas of regular occurrence in the southeastern portion of the state. Never regular in the lower Colorado River Valley, this is about the sixth report, and likely the first for Yuma County.

Subadult, both upperparts and underparts totally gray, with paler gray head, black around eyes, but retaining the banded tail of a juvenile. Long, slender tail and long slender pointed wings.

31 May 2016, photo by Bobby Wilcox

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