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;Rostrhamus sociabilis | ;Rostrhamus sociabilis | ||
[[Image:Snail_Kite.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Pantanal1<br />A male photographed in the Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil.]] | [[Image:Snail_Kite.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Pantanal1<br />A male photographed in the Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil.]] | ||
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==Description== | ==Description== | ||
43cm (17") long and weighs 375g. Male: slaty-black body, with white at base of tail (above and below) and narrow buff or white terminal band. Bill has a long thin hook, ceres and feet are orange or red. Eyes red. Female: browner with buff streaked underparts. Immatures: similar to female, but legs brownish and eye brown. | 43cm (17") long and weighs 375g. Male: slaty-black body, with white at base of tail (above and below) and narrow buff or white terminal band. Bill has a long thin hook, ceres and feet are orange or red. Eyes red. Female: browner with buff streaked underparts. Immatures: similar to female, but legs brownish and eye brown. | ||
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==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
North, Central and South America. In North America breeds only the Everglades of southern Florida. Further south breeds in Cuba and the Isle of Pines and from Veracuz and Oaxaca to Chiapas and Quintana Roo in Mexico to Nicaragua, but rare in Panama. In South America breeds south to western Ecuador in the west and throughout the east as far south as Uruguay and northern Argentina. Rare in Trinidad. Resident. | North, Central and South America. In North America breeds only the Everglades of southern Florida. Further south breeds in Cuba and the Isle of Pines and from Veracuz and Oaxaca to Chiapas and Quintana Roo in Mexico to Nicaragua, but rare in Panama. In South America breeds south to western Ecuador in the west and throughout the east as far south as Uruguay and northern Argentina. Rare in Trinidad. Resident. | ||
| − | + | ==Taxonomy== | |
| + | aka Everglade Kite | ||
| + | Four subspecies are recognised: nominate race from Nicaragua to Argentina, ''major'' in eastern Mexico and Guatemala, ''levis'' in Cuba and ''plumbeus'' in Florida. Race ''levis'' commonly included in ''plumbeus''. | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Freshwater marshes and swamps, lagoons, rivers and mangroves. Lowlands. | Freshwater marshes and swamps, lagoons, rivers and mangroves. Lowlands. | ||
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As suggested by its name, feeds almost entirely on snails (e.g. ''Pomacea'' snails.). Flies low and slowly over marshes in search of it's food. Voice: a short, guttural cackle. | As suggested by its name, feeds almost entirely on snails (e.g. ''Pomacea'' snails.). Flies low and slowly over marshes in search of it's food. Voice: a short, guttural cackle. | ||
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==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | + | {{GSearch|Snail+Kite}} | |
[[Category:Birds]] | [[Category:Birds]] | ||
Revision as of 13:25, 26 May 2007
- Rostrhamus sociabilis
Description
43cm (17") long and weighs 375g. Male: slaty-black body, with white at base of tail (above and below) and narrow buff or white terminal band. Bill has a long thin hook, ceres and feet are orange or red. Eyes red. Female: browner with buff streaked underparts. Immatures: similar to female, but legs brownish and eye brown.
Identification
Easily identified by bill in most of its range. The Slender-billed Kite (local near water in forested areas of South America) has a similar bill and resemble the male Snail Kite in plumage, but is shorter-winged and -tailed, has no white rump, crissum or tail-base and yellow eyes. Imm. Slender-billed Kite has darker brownish eyes, but three narrow white tail-bands (incl. tip) unlike any plumage of Snail Kite.
Distribution
North, Central and South America. In North America breeds only the Everglades of southern Florida. Further south breeds in Cuba and the Isle of Pines and from Veracuz and Oaxaca to Chiapas and Quintana Roo in Mexico to Nicaragua, but rare in Panama. In South America breeds south to western Ecuador in the west and throughout the east as far south as Uruguay and northern Argentina. Rare in Trinidad. Resident.
Taxonomy
aka Everglade Kite Four subspecies are recognised: nominate race from Nicaragua to Argentina, major in eastern Mexico and Guatemala, levis in Cuba and plumbeus in Florida. Race levis commonly included in plumbeus.
Habitat
Freshwater marshes and swamps, lagoons, rivers and mangroves. Lowlands.
Behaviour
As suggested by its name, feeds almost entirely on snails (e.g. Pomacea snails.). Flies low and slowly over marshes in search of it's food. Voice: a short, guttural cackle.
