This striking black and white bird with graceful flight is not normally found in either Tennessee or North Carolina. Historical records for the area imply that in the mid-1800s it may have been more regular in the mountains and nested in Tennessee (Nicholson 1997).

Measurements:
Body length: 20 to 27 inches.
Wingspan: 3.7 to 4.5 feet
Long forked, swallow-like tail: 10.8 to 14.6 inches

Diet: small reptiles, larger amphibians, small birds and their eggs, large insects, and small mammals.

Habitat: woodlands and forested wetlands.

It is known to breed from the Southeastern US to central South America.

The one park record is of an individual above the west end of Cades Cove in late July, 1970. Its occurrence in the park is considered accidental and not expected to occur again in the near future.

References:

Nicholson, Charles P. 1997. Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville.

Gough, G. A., Sauer, J. R., Iliff, M. Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter. 1998. Version 97.1. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/infocenter.html.