![]() Physical characteristics of the nest tree did not explain aggressive behaviors, thereby suggesting that aggression in Mississippi kites is caused by factors other than nesting location features. Additionally, kites breeding in the exurban area appeared to respond to experimental disturbance at a greater distance than did urban breeding kites, but not with more attacks on pedestrians. In the urban area, kites displayed a more limited suit of responses and either remained on the nest or swooped at the pedestrian. ![]() Individual kites breeding in the exurban area responded to the trial pedestrian by taking flight from the nesting area, circling overhead, swooping at the pedestrian, or remaining on the nest. Additionally, we examine the relationships between physical features of the nest tree where aggressive behaviors were and were not recorded. Mississippi kites (Ictinia mississippiensis) have become an abundant raptor in many urban and exurban areas throughout the Southern Great Plains of the United States. At a fine scale, habitat selection by eastern exurban kites appears relatively consistent within and across study areas. We assessed and compared the prevalence of aggressive nest-defense by Mississippi kites in an urban area and an exurban area by simulating nest disturbance with a trial pedestrian. Kites appear to avoid nesting in urban centers, although it is not known if this is due to lack of trees, lack of prey, or human disturbance. ![]() This habituation may result in a decreased wariness and secrecy near their nest and an increased inclination to engage in aggressive nest defenses. Life History Mississippi kites are very social in all activities. In flight, this bird is smooth, graceful, and buoyant. It has a completely black tail, deep red eyes, and yellow to red legs. To date, there are no data describing the prevalence of aggressive nest defense in the species, making informed management of human and kite conflicts difficult. CITED BY Abstract Birds that have adapted to urban landscapes often display changes in their behavioral responses to human disturbance. Description The Mississippi kite is a beautiful, falcon-like bird whose body is an overall gray color and whose head is a lighter ashy gray. Unfortunately, human–wildlife conflicts have resulted from this juxtaposition of suitable breeding areas for kites and areas that humans frequent, with some kites responding aggressively to humans near nests. UPPERCASE: current genus Uppercase first letter: generic synonym and See: generic homonyms lowercase: species and subspecies : early names, variants, misspellings : extinct : type species Gr.: ancient Greek L. Mississippi kites ( Ictinia mississippiensis ) have become an abundant raptor in many urban and exurban areas throughout the Southern Great Plains of the United States.
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