The Mississippi Kite is a medium-sized bird of prey that is found in the southern United States. This raptor gets its name from the Mississippi River valley where it can be commonly found during the summer months. The Mississippi Kite makes a loud, high-pitched sound that has been described as a shrill whistle. This vocalization is thought to be used for communicating with other kites and defending territory.
Calls of the Mississippi Kite
The most common vocalization of the Mississippi Kite is a loud, whistled “klee-klee-klee”. This call is often repeated in a series and is used by kites to communicate with each other during the breeding season. The “klee” call is thought to help Mississippi Kites identify each other and find mates when they return from migration. It may also be used by paired birds to communicate when hunting or defending a nesting territory. The “klee” call carries well over long distances, enabling kites to locate others despite being high up in the treetops.
Another call, described as a high, squeaky “pee-pee-pee”, is given near the nest. This softer call seems to be used for close communication between mates and parent kites with their young. Adults may use this intimate call when arriving at the nest with food for the chicks. The peeping vocalization of young Mississippi Kites waiting to be fed can also sometimes sound similar.
When alarmed or aggressively defending the nest, Mississippi Kites make a louder, barking call spelled as “kak-kak-kak”. This call is thought to be associated with warning off potential predators that get too close to the nest site. It may also be used as a territorial call, proclaiming ownership of a nesting area and chasing other birds away.
When Are the Sounds Most Often Heard?
The distinctive whistling “klee” call of the Mississippi Kite is heard most often during the late spring and summer breeding season. In April and May, the birds can be heard making this vocalization frequently as they return from migration and begin forming pairs. Calling peaks when males are establishing territories and courting females at the start of the breeding season.
Through the summer months, adults continue to use the “klee” call to communicate as they nest, incubate eggs, and raise their young. Calling may decrease in frequency as the season progresses but continues to help birds maintain contact and defend nest sites.
The softer “pee” call and loud alarm “kak” call are often given near active nests during the summer as parent birds interact with their mates and offspring. These calls are used for short-range communication rather than the broadcast “klee” call. As the young fledge in mid-summer, the family groups may continue giving contact calls as the juveniles learn to hunt alongside their parents.
Regional Variations
There are no well-documented regional dialects or variations in the calls of Mississippi Kites. However, there may be subtle differences between populations that are difficult to detect. The clearest variation occurs between the sexes – male kites typically have a higher-pitched whistling call compared to females.
Calls of individual kites may vary slightly in tone, pitch, and loudness based on factors like the age, sex, and fitness of each bird. The alarm “kak” and contact “pee” calls in particular can sound different depending on which adult is calling and the context. But the overall quality and structure of Mississippi Kite vocalizations seems consistent across their range.
Comparisons with Other Bird Sounds
The whistled “klee” call of Mississippi Kites is quite distinct and unlikely to be confused with other North American birds. The rapid series of notes sounds similar to the vocalizations of shorebirds like Killdeer, but is louder and more piercing. It carries very well through open country.
The “pee” and “kak” calls may sound superficially similar to vocalizations of songbirds or other birds of prey. However, the alarm call can be identified by its harsh, loud quality and repetitive delivery. The contact “pee” call has a recognizable squeaky timbre when heard up close. With experience, even the softer Mississippi Kite calls can be distinguished from other birds.
Identification Tips
To identify the sounds of Mississippi Kites, listen for:
- A loud, whistled “klee-klee-klee” given repeatedly
- A high, squeaky “pee-pee-pee” call
- A harsh, barking “kak-kak-kak” alarm call
Key times to listen include:
- Early summer when kites are establishing breeding territories
- Near nesting sites through the summer
- Around family groups with juveniles in mid-summer
The whistled call carries very far, while the “pee” and “kak” calls are softer and used at close range. Scan treetops for a calling kite with wings lifted in a shallow V-shape. Learning the sounds will help locate these graceful raptors as they nest and raise young across the southern United States.
Conclusion
The Mississippi Kite has a variety of vocalizations that help it communicate and maintain territories. Its most familiar call is a loud, whistling “klee” sound given repeatedly by breeding adults. Softer peeping and barking calls are also used near the nest. Learning these avian sounds can aid in detecting Mississippi Kites, especially during the active summer breeding season. Just listen for the bird’s unique whistling song carrying over fields and farmlands of the southern United States.
