Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)
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Snail Kite

Rostrhamus sociabilis (Vieillot, 1817)

367 gWeight

The snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) is a bird of prey within the family Accipitridae, which also includes the eagles, hawks, and Old World vultures.

Most records: United States, Brazil, Argentina

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Most records: United States, Brazil, Argentina

Snail Kite has been recorded at 576 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 26 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Sweetwater Wetlands ParkUnited States5,044 records
  2. Paynes Prairie Preserve SP – La Chua TrailUnited States3,737 records
  3. Harns MarshUnited States3,424 records
More places
  1. MEX - Veracruz- MInatitlan - Pantano de Santa AlejandrinMexico2,732 records
  2. RN Laguna de SonsoColombia2,681 records
  3. Reserva Ecológica Costanera SurArgentina2,231 records
  4. Joe Overstreet Rd. and LandingUnited States2,105 records
  5. Stormwater Treatment Area 5/6United States1,679 records
  6. Poconé – Pousada PiuvalBrazil1,615 records
  7. Crooked Tree Wildlife SanctuaryBelize1,385 records

Countries and regions with the most records

United StatesBrazilArgentinaBelizeMexicoColombiaPanamaCosta Rica

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) is a bird of prey within the family Accipitridae, which also includes the eagles, hawks, and Old World vultures. Its relative, the slender-billed kite, is now again placed in Helicolestes, making the genus Rostrhamus monotypic. Usually, it is placed in the Milvine kites, but the validity of that grouping is under investigation.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Snail Kite?

The Snail Kite weighs around 367 g.

Where does the Snail Kite live?

Its breeding range: North America, Middle America, South America: southern Florida and Caribbean to northeastern Argentina. It is most often recorded in United States, Brazil and Argentina.

Is the Snail Kite endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Snail Kite as Least Concern.

What does the Snail Kite eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the Snail Kite in?

It belongs to the family Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae), order Accipitriformes.

At a glance

Weight
367 g
Habitat
Wetland
Diet
Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Partial migrant
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
345 mm
Tail
169 mm
Bill
33 mm
Tarsus
50 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

North America, Middle America, South America: southern Florida and Caribbean to northeastern Argentina

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Kites, Hawks, Eagles Accipitridae
Genus
Rostrhamus

More from the family Kites, Hawks, Eagles

Pearl KitePearl KiteGampsonyx swainsoniiScissor-tailed KiteScissor-tailed KiteChelictinia riocouriiWhite-tailed KiteWhite-tailed KiteElanus leucurusBlack-winged KiteBlack-winged KiteElanus caeruleusBlack-shouldered KiteBlack-shouldered KiteElanus axillarisLetter-winged KiteLetter-winged KiteElanus scriptusAfrican Harrier-HawkAfrican Harrier-HawkPolyboroides typusMadagascar Harrier-HawkMadagascar Harrier-HawkPolyboroides radiatusPalm-nut VulturePalm-nut VultureGypohierax angolensisBearded VultureBearded VultureGypaetus barbatus
Snail Kite

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Judd Patterson. ↗

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