Swallow Tailed Kites are raptors and have been called the coolest birds on the planet and I think I agree! You hardly ever see them flap their wings as they soar around in the air, maneuvering with just a twist of their tail. This weekend I saw one outside my house and by the time I grabbed my camera and walked outside, it had landed in a tree across the street. It was cool to see it perched at the top of the tree. When it decided to fly again, I got a photo of the flapping wings.