Date 1878
Source Birds of Prey, Prang's Natural History Series for Children
Gallery page http://www.reusableart.com/v/birds/birds-of-prey/kite-birds-01.jpg.html
Author no illustrator listed, author was Norman Allison Calkins (1822-1899) and the book was published by L. Prang & Co of Boston
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mississippi_Kite_Illustration.jpg

The Mississippi kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Mississippi kites have narrow, pointed wings and are graceful in flight, often appearing to float in the air. Ictinia mississippiensis breeds across the central and southern United States.