Species: Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)
Number of Individuals observed: 1
Date of Sighting: 4/6/2016
County : Dauphin
Location : Dauphin Boro
GPS Coordinates:
Observer(s): Robert Weaver
Date of Submission: 4/6/2016
Submitted by: Robert Weaver
Written Description: Yes Photo: Yes Specimen: no Recording: no
Species: Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus
Number of Individuals observed: 1
Date of Sighting: 8-10-2013
County : Dauphin
Location : Lower Paxton, Lisa Drive, Harrisburg
GPS Coordinates:
Observer(s): Gilbert Grant Nikki Reiber
Date of Submission: 8-11-2013
Submitted by: Gilbert Grant
Written Description: yes Photo: no Specimen: Recording:
Species: Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus
Number of Individuals observed: 1
Date of Sighting: 5-11-2013
County : Montgomery
Location : Whitemarsh Twp; next to Erdenheim Farm
GPS Coordinates:
Observer(s): Langhorne Smith, Hugh Sargent, Henry Crouter, Maisie Starr
Date of Submission: 5-16-2013
Submitted by: Langhorne Smith
Written Description: yes Photo: no Specimen: Recording:
Species: Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus
Number of Individuals observed: 1
Date of Sighting: 4-28-2013
County : Schuylkill/Berks
Location : Hawk Mountain Sanctuary North Lookout
GPS Coordinates:
Observer(s): Chong Puan, Joe Binder
Date of Submission: 5-2-2013
Submitted by: L. Goodrick, Chong Puan
Written Description: yes Photo: no Specimen: Recording:
Species: Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus
Date of Sighting: 08-23-2012 1:10 PM
County : ADAMS
Location : Reading Township; Intersection of Possum Hollow Road and Route 234, East Berlin
Observer(s): Benjamin Leese
Date of Submission: 8-23-2012
Submitted by: Benjamin Leese
Written Description: YES Photo: NO Specimen: NO Recording: NO
Species: Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus
Date of Sighting: 30 April 2012 to 30 April 2012
County : ALLEGHENY Location : MARSHALL TOWNSHIP
Observer(s): Grace Smith
Date of Submission: 2012
Submitted by: Grace Smith, Mike Fialkovich
Written Description: Yes Photo: No Specimen: No Recording: No
The committee felt the written description was strong enough to support acceptance of this unmistakeable species.
Species: Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus
Date of Sighting: 3 May 2012 to 3 May 2012
County : YORK Location : HELLAM TOWNSHIP
Observer(s): Jean Prescott, John Prescott
Date of Submission: 2012
Submitted by: Jean Prescott
Written Description: Yes Photo: No Specimen: No Recording: No
Note: All records listed here have been accepted by PORC and published in their Annual Report unless otherwise noted. All records are listed in reverse chronological order.
Near Newburg, Cumberland County; April 30, 2011. Photo by Andrew Markel.
Fort Washington State Park, Montgomery County; September 1, 2009. Photos by Devich Farbotnik.
Presque Isle, Erie County; April 21, 2009. Photos by Jerry McWilliams.
Colerain Township, Lancaster County; March 13, 2005. Photos by Tom Amico.
Somerset, Bedford County; May 17, 2004. Photo by Bill Zemaitis.
2011
Swallow-tailed Kite — near Newburg, Cumberland County; April 30, 2011. Photo by Andrew Markel. This distinctive bird was found and photographed by Andy.
2009
Swallow-tailed Kite — Fort Washington State Park, Montgomery County; September 1, 2009. Photos by Devich Farbotnik. This unmistakeable bird was seen flying over the Militia Hill hawkwatch. 
Here, the bird is eating a dragonfly. 
Swallow-tailed Kite — Presque Isle, Erie County; April 21, 2009. Photos by Jerry McWilliams. This bird was seen circling over the Tom Ridge Environmental Center.
2005
Swallow-tailed Kite — Colerain Township, Lancaster County; March 13, 2005. Photos by Tom Amico. A couple horseback riding in Southern Lancaster County found this adult bird sitting on the ground at the base of a large pine along the Octoraro Creek. It seemed to have trouble holding its head upright and made no attempt to escape. They took the bird back to their house and tried to find someone that could help it, but the bird was dead within the hour. According to “The Birds of Pennsylvania” by McWilliams and Brauning (2000), this appears to be the earliest-ever record for the state, beating the listed early date of May 11th by almost two months.
2004
Swallow-tailed Kite — Somerset, Bedford County; May 17, 2004. Photo by Bill Zemaitis. This photo shows the distinctive forked tail and the black-and-white coloration.
Photographed over Newburg, Cumberland, 30 April 2011 by Andrew Markel. With the exception of 2010, this species has been recorded annually.
Species: Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)
Number of Individuals observed: 1
Date of Sighting: 5/27/2003
County : Blair
Location : Top of First Field, Brush Mountain, Bruce Bonta Property, part of Plummer’s Hollow Nature Reserve
GPS Coordinates: 40.64625, -78.250917
Observer(s): Marcia Bonta
Date of Submission: 1/27/2016
Submitted by: Marcia Bonta
Written Description: Yes Photo: No Specimen: no Recording: no
You must be logged in to post a comment.