The snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) is a bird of prey within the family Accipitridae, which also includes the eagles, hawks, and Old World vultures. Snail kites are 14 to 19 inches long with a 39–47 inch wingspan. They weigh from 11 to 20 oz. They have long, broad, and rounded wings, which measure 11–13 in each. Its tail is long, at 6.3–8.3 in, with a white rump and undertail coverts. The dark, deeply hooked beak, measuring 1.1–1.6 in is an adaptation to its diet. The Snail Kite is a bird of prey with a very particular appetite: it feeds almost exclusively on apple snails, a freshwater mollusk that occurs in Central and South Florida wetlands including the Everglades. The bird’s curved beak is slightly off-center to allow it to easily extract the snail from its spiraled shell.
The snail kite breeds in tropical South America, the Caribbean, and central and southern Florida in the United States. It is resident all-year in most of its range, but the southernmost population migrates north in winter and the Caribbean birds disperse widely outside the breeding season. It nests in a bush or on the ground, laying three to four eggs.
The snail kite is a locally endangered species in the Florida Everglades, with a population of less than 400 breeding pairs. Research has demonstrated that water-level control in the Everglades is depleting the population of apple snails. However, this species is not generally threatened over its extensive range.
Placement of this geocache has been approved by Rob Rossmanith, Park Biologist. Please remember, all wheels off the paved road when parking. Do not block any gates or trailheads and follow the posted speed limits.