A male Snail Kite is frozen in mid-flight, an apple snail secured in his talons. Unlike most raptors, this species feeds almost exclusively on apple snails, using a uniquely long, narrow, and curved bill to extract snails rom their shell with efficiency. Dependent on healthy freshwater wetlands, Snail Kites range from the southeastern United States through Central and South America, their populations closely tied to water levels and snail abundance. In Florida, their populaton is threatened. Intensive conservation and tracking efforts are in place, as evidenced by this bird's identification bands.
A male Snail Kite is frozen in mid-flight, an apple snail secured in his talons. Unlike most raptors, this species feeds almost exclusively on apple snails, using a uniquely long, narrow, and curved bill to extract snails rom their shell with efficiency. Dependent on healthy freshwater wetlands, Snail Kites range from the southeastern United States through Central and South America, their populations closely tied to water levels and snail abundance. In Florida, their populaton is threatened. Intensive conservation and tracking efforts are in place, as evidenced by this bird's identification bands.
