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Help develop a Bird ID tool!

Snail Kite

Rostrhamus sociabilis ORDER: ACCIPITRIFORMES FAMILY: ACCIPITRIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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

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Appearance

Hawks
Hawks
Typical Voice

Adult 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.

Immature Description

Juvenile similar to adult female, but with more scaly markings on back and yellow, not red legs.

Range Map Help

Snail Kite Range Map
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Field MarksHelp

  • Male at nest
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    Snail Kite

    Male at nest
    • © Fred K.Truslow / CLO
  • Immature
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    Snail Kite

    Immature
    • © L.Page Brown / CLO

Similar Species

  • Northern Harrier also flies low over marshes and has a white rump, but it is more slender, has a long tail, and teeters from side-to-side as it flies.
  • Crested Caracara has white at base of tail, but also has white chest and white patches in the wings.