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Snail Kite Identification

Snail Kite Adult male
Adult male

In flight note broad wings and triangular-shaped tail with a dark band on a white tail. Adult males have reddish orange legs and a thin hooked reddish orange bill with a black tip.

© Tom Johnson | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, April 26, 2016
Snail Kite Female
Female

Females are brown above with streaking below. Most females have a white eyebrow. Note thin, curved bill.

© Brian SullivanFlorida, March 13, 2011
Snail Kite Adult male
Adult male

Found in marshes and other bodies of water with marsh edge where it forages for apple snails. This video has no audio.

© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryApril 01, 1996
Snail Kite Adult male
Adult male

Dark gray above and below with white under tail coverts. Bill and legs are reddish orange.

© John Cahill | Macaulay LibraryAlta Verapaz, June 19, 2016
Snail Kite Habitat
Habitat

Typical habitat includes freshwater marshes, edges of shallow lakes, and other flat-water courses with marsh edge.

© Corey Finger | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, January 24, 2015
Snail Kite Female
Female

Females are brown overall with a distinctive white eyebrow. This video has no audio.

© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryApril 01, 1996
Snail Kite Juvenile
Juvenile

Juveniles are dark brown above with a buffy face and dark streaking on a buffy belly. Note entirely dark bill and yellow legs.

© Lynne Hertzog | Macaulay LibraryGuayas, September 26, 2015
Snail Kite Adult male
Adult male

Flies with slow and somewhat floppy wingbeats. Note broad wings and white upper tail.

© Gregory Griffith | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, May 08, 1994
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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.
Relative Size

Relative Sizebetween crow and goosebetween crow and goose
Measurements
  • Both Sexes
    • Length: 14.2-15.8 in (36-40 cm)
    • Weight: 12.7-20.1 oz (360-570 g)

Species in This Family

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites(Order: Accipitriformes, Family:Accipitridae)

White-tailed KiteWhite-tailed Kite
Swallow-tailed KiteSwallow-tailed Kite
Golden EagleGolden Eagle
Snail KiteSnail Kite
Mississippi KiteMississippi Kite
Northern HarrierNorthern Harrier
Sharp-shinned HawkSharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's HawkCooper's Hawk
Northern GoshawkNorthern Goshawk
Bald EagleBald Eagle
White-tailed HawkWhite-tailed Hawk
Gray HawkGray Hawk
Red-shouldered HawkRed-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged HawkBroad-winged Hawk
Swainson's HawkSwainson's Hawk
Zone-tailed HawkZone-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed HawkRed-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged HawkRough-legged Hawk
Ferruginous HawkFerruginous Hawk
Harris's HawkHarris's Hawk

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