Snail Kite

Snail Kite, male at nest

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Snail Kite, immature in flight

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Full detailed species account

A bird of tropical marshlands, the Snail Kite makes it to the United States only in southern Florida. This specialized hawk feeds primarily on snails

Description

• Medium-sized hawk.
• Narrow, strongly down-curved bill.
• Broad wings.
• Short, square tail.
• White at base of tail.
• Male all sooty gray.
• Female striped.

• Size: 36-40 cm (14-16 in)
• Weight: 360-570 g (12.71-20.12 ounces)

Sex Differences

Male all dark, female brown striped and slightly larger.

Sound

Usually silent; makes harsh cackling.

Conservation Status

Listed as Federal and State endangered species because of its small population in the United States and its extreme habitat specialization. Widespread and common in Latin America.

Other Names

Milan des marais (French)
Everglade Kite (English)

Sources used to construct this page:

Sykes, P. W., Jr., J. A. Rodgers, Jr., and R. E. Bennetts. 1995. Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis). In The Birds of North America, No. 171 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.