Snail Kite
Rostrhamus sociabilis
Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
- FamilyAccipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
- GenusRostrhamus
- SpeciesRostrhamus sociabilis (Snail Kite)
About the Snail Kite
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.
Lerner and Mindell (2005) found R. sociabilis sister to Geranospiza caerulescens, and that those two along with Ictinea plumbea were basal to both the Buteogallus and Buteo clades. They concluded that Rostrhamus belonged in Buteoninae (sensu stricto) and not in Milvinae, but noted that more investigation was needed.
The snail kite breeds in tropical South America, the Caribbean, and central and southern Florida in the United States. It is resident all-year round in most of its range, but the southernmost population migrates north in winter and the Caribbean birds disperse widely outside the breeding season.
Snail kites are 36 to 48 cm (14 to 19 in) long with a 99–120 cm (39–47 in) wingspan. They weigh from 300 to 570 g (11 to 20 oz). There is very limited sexual dimorphism... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Snail Kite in Anavilhanas National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Anavilhanas National Park
Roadside Hawk
Rupornis magnirostris
Plumbeous Kite
Ictinia plumbea
Great Black-Hawk
Buteogallus urubitinga
Gray-lined Hawk
Buteo nitidus
American Swallow-tailed Kite
Elanoides forficatus
Black Hawk-Eagle
Spizaetus tyrannus
Slate-colored Hawk
Leucopternis schistaceus
Gray-headed Kite
Leptodon cayanensis
Black-collared Hawk
Busarellus nigricollis
White Hawk
Leucopternis albicollis
Crane Hawk
Geranospiza caerulescens
Double-toothed Kite
Harpagus bidentatus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Snail Kite in Anavilhanas National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Snail Kite sighting in Anavilhanas National Park, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Snail Kite in Anavilhanas National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Snail Kite in Anavilhanas National Park in our monthly data.