Field Guide to Birds of North America
Snail Kite
General
Snail Kite: A large bird, dark blue black overall with extremely hooked thin black bill with reddish base. In flight it shows a white tail with broad dark distal band and narrow gray terminal band. Long legs are bright orange or red. Females are dark brown overall with white chin and cheeks and white spot over each eye. Juveniles resemble females but are heavily streaked below.
Range and Habitat
Snail Kite: This bird ranges from southern Mexico to northern Argentina and resides in the United States only in peninsular Florida. It is locally common on flooded freshwater marshes, around shallow lakes, and along freshwater courses.
Listen to Call
Voice Text
"ka-ka-ka-ka-ka", "ka-a-a-a--a-a-a", "ker-wuck", "ku-kuak", "kor-ee-ee-a, koree-a"
Interesting Facts
Abundant in Latin America, Snail Kites in the U.S. are only found in Florida and are highly endangered.
Also called the Everglades Kite, they are one of the most specialized of all hawks. They feed almost exclusively on the apple snail.
Fewer than 900 birds and 400 mated pairs were recorded in 2007. When they were listed as endangered in 1967, there were fewer than 100 individuals; their population peaked in 1999 at around 3,600.
A group of kites has many collective nouns, including a "brood", "kettle", "roost", "stooping", and "string" of kites.
Author
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Family
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Species
Rostrhamus sociabilis
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Length16 - 18
Inches
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Wingspan45
Inches
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Snail Kite
Snail Kite: A large bird, dark blue black overall with extremely hooked thin black bill with reddish base. In flight shows a white tail with broad dark distal band and narrow gray terminal band. Long legs are bright orange or red. Feeds on snails. Flies on slow shallow wing beats followed by glides.
● Song: "ka-ka-ka-ka-ka", "ka-a-a-a--a-a-a", "ker-wuck", "ku-kuak", "kor-ee-ee-a, koree-a"
● Foraging & Feeding: Snail Kite: This bird feeds mostly on prosobranch freshwater snails of genus Pomacea, also called a green or apple snail, which lays its tiny white eggs on plant stems a few inches above the water. Flies above water surface with its head pointed downward searching for prey in water below. Once snail is detected, Snail Kite hovers just above water surface and extends feet to grasp prey with talons. Snail Kite never takes snail with its bill, nor does it plunge in the manner of fish-eating raptors; adults seldom get belly feathers wet.
● Breeding & nesting: Snail Kite: Two to four white eggs sometimes marked with brown are laid in a nest of green or dry sticks and leafy twigs. Nest is built by both sexes but male does most of the work. Nest is placed in a low tree, 3-9 feet above ground, or on a hammock of marsh grass. Incubation ranges from 26 to 30 days and is carried out by both sexes. These birds usually have one brood per year but can also have two if there is plenty of food available.
● Similar species: Snail Kite: The Northern Harrier is found in similar habitat and has a white rump but the harrier has thinner wings, and does not have white in the tail.
Flight Pattern
Flies on slow shallow wing beats interrupted by short glides.
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BreedingMonogamous
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PopulationRare to uncommon
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MigrationNonmigratory
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Weight13.3
Ounces
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