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Snail Kite

Michael Palin presents the snail kite from the Florida Everglades.

Michael Palin presents the snail kite from the Florida Everglades. Unlike many birds of prey which are known for their speed and agility, the snail kite hunts at a leisurely pace, one which matches its prey; and here in Florida's swamps, it is on the lookout for the apple snail.

To pick them out of floating vegetation, the kite has evolved long needle-like claws, and its slender, viciously-hooked bill is perfect for snipping the snails' muscles and winkling them out of their shells. Snail kites are common across wetlands in South and Central America, but rare in Florida where there are around one thousand birds. Drainage of these marshes has made them scarce, but popular with bird watchers.

It's easy to see why, because snail kites are striking birds with their orange feet and black and red bill. The males are ash-grey apart from a white band at the base of their tails. Females and young birds are browner and more mottled. In times of drought, they will eat turtles, crabs or rodents, but these avian gourmets always return to their favourite dish of, escargots.

Producer : Andrew Dawes

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1 minute

Last on

Mon 13 Mar 2023 05:58

Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)

Webpage image courtesy of Gerrit Vyn / naturepl.com.

NPL Ref 漏 Gerrit Vyn / naturepl.com

Recording of snail kite by William Belton / Ref: ML 20008

This programme contains a 聽kindly provided by The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology; recorded by William Belton on 12 Nov 1978, Banhado Do Pontal, Brazil.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 23 Jan 2015 05:58
  • Thu 14 Jan 2016 05:58
  • Mon 10 Jun 2019 05:58
  • Mon 7 Dec 2020 05:58
  • Mon 13 Mar 2023 05:58

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