Snail Kite( Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus)

Snail Kite

The Snail Kite( Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus) is in endangered species that occurs in the wetlands of central and southern Florida.  What makes them unique, is the highly specialized diet that is composed almost entirely of Apple Snails.  Because of this fact, snail kites will change their habitat location depending on the amount of apple snails that are present, and the snail kites ability to locate the snails.  The snail kite utilizes their feet to capture snails at or below the water surface.  The snail kites bill, which is slender and curved is an adaptation to allow them to extract the apple snail from its shell.

Snail Kite

Snail Kite

Snail Kite

Snail Kite

Apple snail shell that was left after the snail kite extracted the meat