The Snail Kite is a medium-sized raptor that reigns over the wetlands of the Americas, uniquely specialized in feeding almost exclusively on freshwater apple snails (Pomacea spp.). It inhabits marshes, slow-moving rivers, and shallow lakes from the U.S. state of Florida through Central America and the Caribbean, southward to Uruguay and northeastern Argentina.
This species exhibits marked sexual dimorphism in plumage—an uncommon trait among raptors. The adult male is unmistakable: sleek and nearly uniform slate-gray to bluish-gray, with vivid reddish-orange legs, cere, and lores. In contrast, the adult female displays a more complex pattern—dark brown upperparts with heavily streaked whitish underparts and a paler, often mottled face. Her legs and cere range from yellow to orange.
Juveniles resemble females but are generally duller brown, with extensive buff or cinnamon streaking below and a broad buffy-white area on the face before acquiring the adult plumage. Their eyes are dark brown, later turning deep red as they mature.
Regardless of sex, all adults share the diagnostic white base of the tail and the highly specialized, slender, deeply hooked bill—perfectly adapted for extracting Pomacea snails from their shells. They hunt in slow, buoyant, low flights over open water, often hovering briefly before snatching their prey from the surface or emergent vegetation.
• Gavilán caracolero, Milano caracolero
• Gavião-de-aruá, Gavião-pescador, Caramujeiro
• Snail Kite
Scientific classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Rostrhamus
Species: R. sociabilis
Adult specimen
Laguna Garzón area, Maldonado–Rocha border, Uruguay
Camera: Canon EOS R7
Lens: Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary
Capture Information:
Focal Length: 600.0 mm
Shutter Speed: 1/1000
Aperture: f/6.3
ISO: 320
Photo Taken: October 19, 2025
High resolution
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