11-05-2009

Swallow-tailed kite bird



This bird of prey is a common sight in the interior of Suriname. It flies low over the treetops or high in the air like a very big swallow, sometimes in small groups. They hunt for large insects but Penard also found little birds in their stomach. They breed in Suriname, and are seen all year. Numbers seen are highest in March and July, but about the migration of these kites nothing much is yet known
Names in:
Scientific name: Elanoides forficatus
Dutch: Zwaluwstaartwouw
French: Milan à queue fourchue
Portugese: Gavilão-tesoura
Spanish: Gavilán tijereta
Surinamese: Sesei-aka
Carib: Kamalako, Salape
Arawak: Haimaleroe, Bajawja, Samalia-balielie (king of the swallows)