Snail Kite
Image: <bdi><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q54800218" class="extiw" title="d:Q54800218"><span title="Scottish wildlife photographer">Charles J. Sharp</span></a></bdi> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
NameSnail Kite
Common NameSnail Kite
Scientific NameRostrhamus sociabilis
FamilyAccipitridae
Wingspan (cm)115
Length (cm)44.5
Weight (g)465
Plumage DetailsFemale Snail Kites have dark brown upperparts, a pale throat, and heavily streaked brown and white underparts. The head is dark with a faint pale supercilium and striking reddish eyes. The tail is dark with a white base and a broad white terminal band, often visible in flight. The cere and legs are bright orange-yellow.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include a series of harsh, guttural croaks or caws, often described as 'krah-krah-krah' or 'ga-ga-ga', used in alarm or territorial displays.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatswetlands, marshes, swamps, lakes, rivers, flooded grasslands
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in tropical and subtropical wetlands across the Americas, from Florida (USA) and Cuba, through Central America, and widely across South America to northern Argentina.
Identifying FeaturesDeeply hooked bill, Orange-yellow cere and legs, Reddish eyes, Streaked underparts (female), Specialized diet of apple snails, Long, broad wings and long tail
Description
This medium-sized raptor is highly specialized, known for its deeply hooked bill used to extract snails. Females, like the one pictured, have dark brown upperparts and heavily streaked underparts, contrasting with the slate-gray males. They exhibit graceful flight over wetlands while hunting their unique prey.
