Named after the marshlands of the southern United States, the everglade snail kite is a mid-sized raptor that can reach a length of 36-39 centimeters. It has long legs and a curved beak that is slightly off-centre which allows it to easily extract snails from their spiralled shells.
The everglade snail kite is very picky when it comes to what to eat; it feeds almost exclusively on apple snails, a freshwater mollusc found in Central and South Florida wetlands. It usually hunts in the late afternoons and evenings, when the snails are most active. It usually hunts for snails near the surface of the water. The bird flies slowly near the surface and waits for its prey.
The male everglade snail kites are slate grey in colour with red eyes and orange legs, which turn more reddish during breeding season. Females are brown in colour and have varying streaks of white on the neck, face and chest.
Picture Credit : Google