14 inches long with a 31 inch wingspan. The Mississippi Kite has long pointed wings with the outer primary feather notably shorter than the longer primary feathers. The adult is dark gray above and paler gray below. The head is pale gray with a dark lore extending around the red eye. The tail is black on the upperparts. The juvenile is heavily streaked with reddish feathers on the undersides and the eye color is medium brown. The upperparts are darker often with white spots on the scapulars.