Swallow-tailed Kite

Anonymous Author

Collection: A Literary Field Guide to the Swamp, Book 3

August 2, 2026

Prompt:

Elanoides Forficatus

Biological Overview

Habitat
Freshwater ecosystems including swamps, trees, and wetlands.

Diet
Carnivorous birds, insectivores, mostly eating insects.

Role in Ecosystem
Apex predator putting them on the top of the food chain.

Behavior
Migrate in the winter, circle low around trees using the rising warm air currents

Human Impact

Humans have caused a drastic impact on swallow-tailed kites habitats. People do this with deforestation, hunting, and agricultural development. This causes there population to decrease. This could also cause other animals to decrease in population because if an animal eats them, then they will lose a food source.

Creative Exploration

With its v-shaped tail
It looks for a snail
To munch on
While looking for its lunch.
With its long wings
It soars through the sky
As to take away its sufferings.
With its black beak
They use a special technique
To bathe and wash their back.
As their brain shuts down
And the sun starts to fall
They still remain hungry after all.

Riley Boertmann, Nina R., Lily B.

Book 3

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Tags

Pee Dee/ Grand Strand

Anonymous Author

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