[Length 22 in. Wingspan 51 in.]

This Swallow-tailed Kite was photographed at Liberty, TX. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S f4 lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D100 camera. (Date: August 14, 2004)

[Length 22 in. Wingspan 51 in.]

This Swallow-tailed Kite was photographed at Liberty, TX. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S f4 lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D100 camera. (Date: August 12, 2004)

[Length 15 in. Wingspan 39 in.]

The White-tailed Kite occurs on the coastal plains of Texas and the coastal plains and inland valleys of California and southwestern Oregon. It is easily recognized by its overall gray color, black shoulders, and white tail. It will also hover like a Kestrel when hunting over the open grassy areas it prefers. This one was photographed hunting near Laguna Atascosa NWR in southeastern Texas. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: January 1988)

[Length 15 in. Wingspan 39 in.]

This White-tailed Kite was photographed at the Santa Ana NWR Christmas Bird Count, Alamo, Texas. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D7000 camera. (Date: December 14, 2011)

[Length 15 in. Wingspan 39 in.]

The White-tailed Kite occurs on the coastal plains of Texas and the coastal plains and inland valleys of California and southwestern Oregon. It is easily recognized by its overall gray color, black shoulders, and white tail. It will also hover like a Kestrel when hunting over the open grassy areas it prefers. This one was photographed near Laguna Atascosa NWR in southeastern Texas. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: December 1979)

[Length 15 in. Wingspan 39 in.]

This White-tailed Kite was photographed at Laguna Atascosa NWR, Texas. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: January 1988)

[Length 15 in. Wingspan 39 in.]

This White-tailed Kite in flight was photographed at Laguna Atascosa NWR, Texas. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: January 1988)

[Length 10 in. Wingspan 24 in.]

This Merlin was photographed at TOS Sabine Woods Sanctuary, Texas. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: April 21, 2010)