Snail kite

The snail kite is a captivating bird of prey belonging to the Accipitridae family, which includes eagles, hawks, and Old World vultures. Distinguished by its expansive wingspan, ranging from 99 to 120 cm, the snail kite primarily preys on large apple snails, classifying it as a molluscivore.

The bird's taxonomic classification has been a topic of ongoing debate. Traditionally placed within the milvine kites, recent research proposes it may actually belong to the Buteoninae subfamily. However, further studies are required to substantiate this claim.

Snail kites are commonly found breeding in tropical regions of South America, the Caribbean, and parts of southern Florida in the United States. In areas like the Florida Everglades, the species faces local endangerment due to a decline in apple snail populations, a consequence of water management practices. Nevertheless, the bird is generally not considered threatened across its broader geographical range.

Notable for forming large winter roosts in freshwater wetlands, snail kites mainly consume apple snails but have also been observed eating other prey such as crayfish and black crappie in Florida. This dietary flexibility underscores the snail kite's ability to adapt to the availability of food resources in its environment.