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Difference between revisions of "Snail Kite" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Snail_Kite.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Male<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Pantanal1|Pantanal1}}<br />The Pantanal, Mato Grosso, [[Brazil]]]]
 
'''Alternative name: Everglade Kite'''
 
'''Alternative name: Everglade Kite'''
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[[Image:Snail_Kite.jpg|thumb|500px|right|'''Male'''.  Photo by {{user|Pantanal1|Pantanal1}}<br />Location: the Pantanal, Mato Grosso, [[Brazil]]]]
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;[[:Category:Rostrhamus|Rostrhamus]] sociabilis
 
;[[:Category:Rostrhamus|Rostrhamus]] sociabilis
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
−
Length = 43 cm  
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[[Image:Dabs - Snail Kite female 1.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|DABS|DABS}}<br />Manzanilla, [[Trinidad]], 4 March 2019]]
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Weight = 375 g
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39–48 cm (10¼-19 in); Weight = 375 g<br />
−
 
+
'''Male''':
−
'''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>
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*Slaty-black body
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'''Female''': Browner with buff-streaked underparts <br>
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*White tail base
 +
*Narrow buff or white terminal band on tail
 +
*Long, thin hook on bill
 +
*[[Topography#Heads|Ceres]] and feet are orange or red
 +
*Red eyes<br />
 +
'''Female''': Browner with buff-streaked underparts <br />
 
'''Immature''':  Similar to female, but legs brownish and eye brown, with more streaking on breast.
 
'''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, [[Dictionary_A-C#C|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.
  
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====Similar Species====
 
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[[Image:d09_0313.jpg|thumb|350px|right|'''Immature'''.  Photo by {{user|nomdeploom|nomdeploom}} <br />Location: Corrientes Province, [[Argentina]]]]
 
−
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==
 
==Distribution==
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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.
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[[Image:Gaviao caramujeiro 2.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Juvenile, subspecies ''sociabilis''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Orozimbo|Orozimbo}}<br />Lins SP, [[Brazil]], August 2017]]
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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 />
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[[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==
 
==Taxonomy==
−
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''.
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====Subspecies====
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There are 3 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
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*''R. s. plumbeus'':
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:*Freshwater marshes of [[Florida]], [[Cuba]] and Isle of Pines
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*''R. s. major''1:
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:*Eastern [[Mexico]] and Petén of northern [[Guatemala]]
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*''R. s. sociabilis'':
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:*[[Honduras]] and [[Nicaragua]] to [[Brazil]] and north-eastern [[Argentina]]
 +
 
 +
An additonal subspecies, ''levis'', is not generally recognised and is commonly included in ''plumbeus''.
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Freshwater marshes and swamps, lagoons, rivers and mangroves. Lowlands.
 
Freshwater marshes and swamps, lagoons, rivers and mangroves. Lowlands.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 +
 
====Diet====
 
====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.   
 
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====
 
====Vocalisation====
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A short, guttural cackle.
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A short, guttural cackle.  
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<br />
 +
<br />
 +
{{Audio|BF Juvenile Snail Kite .mp3}}<br />
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Juvenile Snail Kite, Orlando, [[Florida]], [[USA]], 25 February, 2023<br />
 +
Recording &copy; by {{user|Rayman|Rayman}}
 +
 
 +
==Gallery==
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Click on photo for larger image
 +
<gallery>
 +
Image:615 10152fg4 Female Snail Kite with Snail in Flight.jpg|Female in flight with snail<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />Harn's Marsh, Lehigh Acres, [[Florida]], [[USA]], April 2015
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Image:Snail Kite-02282018-08417.jpg|Immature<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|dacol|dacol}}<br />[[Sweetwater Wetlands Park]], Gainesville, [[Florida]], [[USA]], February 2018
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Image:DSC0952-5.jpg|Juvenile, subspecies ''sociabilis''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Dave+B+Smith|Dave B Smith}}<br />Pantanal, [[Brazil]], September 2018
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</gallery>
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==References==
 +
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug18}}
 +
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
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{{GSearch|Rostrhamus_sociabilis }}
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{{GSearch|"Rostrhamus sociabilis" {{!}} "Snail Kite" {{!}} "Everglade Kite"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Rostrhamus]]
 
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Rostrhamus]]

Latest revision as of 20:31, 25 February 2023

Male
Photo © by Pantanal1
The Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Alternative name: Everglade Kite

Rostrhamus sociabilis

Identification

Female
Photo © by DABS
Manzanilla, Trinidad, 4 March 2019

39–48 cm (10¼-19 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
  • Red eyes

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

Juvenile, subspecies sociabilis
Photo © by Orozimbo
Lins SP, Brazil, August 2017

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.


Juvenile Snail Kite, Orlando, Florida, USA, 25 February, 2023
Recording © by Rayman

Gallery

Click on photo for larger image

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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