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| − | + | [[Image:Snail_Kite.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Male<br />Photo by {{user|Pantanal1|Pantanal1}}<br />The Pantanal, Mato Grosso, [[Brazil]]]] | |
| − | [[Image:Snail_Kite.jpg|thumb| | + | '''Alternative name: Everglade Kite''' |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ;[[:Category:Rostrhamus|Rostrhamus]] sociabilis | |
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Snail Kite ( | + | [[Image:615 10152fg4 Female Snail Kite with Snail in Flight.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />Harn's Marsh, Lehigh Acres, [[Florida]], [[USA]], April 2015]] |
| − | + | Length = 43 cm (17 in); | |
| − | < | + | Weight = 375 g |
| + | |||
| + | '''Male''': Slaty-black body, white tail base, narrow buff or white terminal band on tail, long, thin hook on bill. Ceres and feet are orange or red, eyes are red.<br /> | ||
| + | '''Female''': Browner with buff-streaked underparts <br /> | ||
| + | '''Immature''': Similar to female, but legs brownish and eye brown, with more streaking on breast. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Similar Species==== | ||
| + | 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. Immature Slender-billed Kite has darker brownish eyes, but three narrow white tail-bands (incl. tip) unlike any plumage of Snail Kite. | ||
| − | < | + | ==Distribution== |
| + | [[Image:Gaviao caramujeiro 2.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile, subspecies ''sociabilis''<br />Photo by {{user|Orozimbo|Orozimbo}}<br />Lins SP, [[Brazil]], August 2017]] | ||
| + | Resident in North, Central and South America. <br /> | ||
| + | In [[North America]] breeds only in the Everglades of southern [[Florida]]. <br /> | ||
| + | In the [[Caribbean]] breeds in [[Cuba]] and the Isle of Pines. <br /> | ||
| + | [[Central America]]: In [[Mexico]] found in Colima, Jalisco and Nayarit on the Pacific side, and from Veracuz and Oaxaca to Chiapas and Quintana Roo (on both slopes from about the Isthmus. From there it is found in all countries through [[Panama]], but rare in several areas. <br /> | ||
| + | In [[South America]] breeds west of the Andes south to western [[Ecuador]] and throughout the east as far south as [[Uruguay]] and north-central [[Argentina]]. Rare in [[Trinidad]]. | ||
| − | < | + | ==Taxonomy== |
| + | ====Subspecies==== | ||
| + | There are 3 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | ||
| + | *''R. s. plumbeus'': | ||
| + | :*Freshwater marshes of [[Florida]], [[Cuba]] and Isle of Pines | ||
| + | *''R. s. major''1: | ||
| + | :*Eastern [[Mexico]] and Petén of northern [[Guatemala]] | ||
| + | *''R. s. sociabilis'': | ||
| + | :*[[Honduras]] and [[Nicaragua]] to [[Brazil]] and north-eastern [[Argentina]] | ||
| + | An additonal subspecies, ''levis'', is not generally recognised and is commonly included in ''plumbeus''. | ||
| + | ==Habitat== | ||
| + | Freshwater marshes and swamps, lagoons, rivers and mangroves. Lowlands. | ||
| + | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | [[Image:Snail Kite-02282018-08417.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Immature<br />Photo by {{user|dacol|dacol}}<br />[[Sweetwater Wetlands Park]], Gainesville, [[Florida]], [[USA]], February 2018]] | ||
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | As suggested by its name, feeds almost entirely on snails (e.g. ''Pomacea'' snails.). Flies low and slowly over marshes in search of its food. | ||
| + | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
| + | A short, guttural cackle. | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}} | ||
| + | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | + | {{GSearch|Rostrhamus_sociabilis }} | |
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Rostrhamus]] |
Revision as of 17:41, 27 March 2018
Alternative name: Everglade Kite
- Rostrhamus sociabilis
Identification
Length = 43 cm (17 in); Weight = 375 g
Male: Slaty-black body, white tail base, narrow buff or white terminal band on tail, long, thin hook on bill. Ceres and feet are orange or red, eyes are red.
Female: Browner with buff-streaked underparts
Immature: Similar to female, but legs brownish and eye brown, with more streaking on breast.
Similar Species
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. Immature Slender-billed Kite has darker brownish eyes, but three narrow white tail-bands (incl. tip) unlike any plumage of Snail Kite.
Distribution
Resident in North, Central and South America.
In North America breeds only in the Everglades of southern Florida.
In the Caribbean breeds in Cuba and the Isle of Pines.
Central America: In Mexico found in Colima, Jalisco and Nayarit on the Pacific side, and from Veracuz and Oaxaca to Chiapas and Quintana Roo (on both slopes from about the Isthmus. From there it is found in all countries through Panama, but rare in several areas.
In South America breeds west of the Andes south to western Ecuador and throughout the east as far south as Uruguay and north-central Argentina. Rare in Trinidad.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 3 subspecies[1]:
- R. s. plumbeus:
- R. s. major1:
- R. s. sociabilis:
An additonal subspecies, levis, is not generally recognised and is commonly included in plumbeus.
Habitat
Freshwater marshes and swamps, lagoons, rivers and mangroves. Lowlands.
Behaviour
Diet
As suggested by its name, feeds almost entirely on snails (e.g. Pomacea snails.). Flies low and slowly over marshes in search of its food.
Vocalisation
A short, guttural cackle.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Snail Kite. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Snail_Kite
