FIRST RECORDS OF THE WHITE-TAILED KITE IN WASHINGTON

Abstract

The range and population size of the White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) have been increasing in western North America and Central America since the late 1940s (Eisenmann 1971). This expansion was evident in Oregon in the 1970s, as kites became established residents at several Rogue and Willamette Valley locations (American Birds Regional Editor's files). The first breeding record for the state was obtained at Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Benton County, in 1977 (Henny and Annear 1978).