Rostrhamus sociabilis                                              Photo Travis Blunden ©

ENDANGERED

The Snail Kite, also called the Everglades Kite, is found in the freshwater marshes of south Florida where it specializes on freshwater Apple snails. While flying over the deeper waters of the marsh, these raptors snatch up snails with their feet, then delicately remove the flesh from the shell with their deeply curved bill.

Snail kites are tropical birds with a broad distribution that ranges from Florida in the north, to Cuba and central and South America. The US population is listed as endangered. In 2010 there were fewer than 1000 Snail kites in Florida.

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