Birds
File:Gavião caramujeiro (Rostrhamus sociabilis).jpg

Snail Kite

Snail Kite

100
11 hours ago
Spotted
The Snail Kite is a medium-sized raptor of the Americas, known for its distinctive sharply hooked bill. It is a highly specialized predator, feeding almost exclusively on apple snails.
Where to spot
Found in southeastern United States, Cuba, Mexico, Central, and South America. It strictly inhabits freshwater wetlands, marshes, and slow-moving rivers with abundant apple snails.
How to spot
Look for its unique hooked bill and slow, deliberate flight low over wetlands. Males are dark, while females and immatures are browner. Watch for it meticulously extracting snails.
When to spot
Active throughout the day, often seen flying low over wetlands or perched on emergent vegetation. Observable year-round in its resident tropical and subtropical range.
File:Gavião caramujeiro (Rostrhamus sociabilis).jpg
File:Rostrhamus sociabilis 110977267.jpg
File:Rostrhamus sociabilis 110977267 cropped.jpg
File:Rostrhamus sociabilis 73134505.jpg
File:Rostrhamus sociabilis 79451237.jpg
File:Rostrhamus sociabilis sitting.jpg
File:Snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) female.jpg
File:Gavião caramujeiro (Rostrhamus sociabilis).jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
File:Rostrhamus sociabilis 110977267.jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
File:Rostrhamus sociabilis 110977267 cropped.jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
File:Rostrhamus sociabilis 73134505.jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
File:Rostrhamus sociabilis 79451237.jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
File:Rostrhamus sociabilis sitting.jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
File:Snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) female.jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
The Snail Kite's unique, slender, sharply curved bill is perfectly adapted for extracting the fleshy body of apple snails from their shells, a feeding specialization found in few other birds.
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Spotted

Recently spotted
2465 (Seen in the last 3 months)
Last spotted
11 hours ago

Monthly observations

1 observation
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jenny van Dorland
jenny van Dorland
1 year ago
Snail Kite
Brownsweg, Brokopondo
Spotted Snail Kite
Spotted Snail Kite
+60
Lifer
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