The invasive snails alter wetland ecosystems, sometimes degrading habitat quality in the long term. Their large size can also pose challenges for young or smaller kites, and reliance on an invasive species creates uncertainty about future stability. The relationship between snail kites and invasive apple snails illustrates the complex and often unp

availability. If water levels drop too low, snails may become inaccessible or die off, leaving parents unable to provide enough food. Conversely, if water levels rise too high, snails may disperse into deeper water where they are harder to capture. This sensitivity to hydrological conditions makes snail kite reproduction highly variable from year t

forms the foundation of the snail kite’s diet. These large freshwater snails live in shallow wetlands and lay bright pink egg clusters on vegetation above the waterline. Snail kites hunt by flying slowly over marshes, watching for snails near the surface or clinging to plants. When a snail is spotted, the bird swoops down, grabs it with its talon

a species whose life story is inseparably linked to water, wetlands, and a single type of prey. Known scientifically as Rostrhamus sociabilis, the snail kite is a medium-sized raptor that inhabits freshwater marshes, shallow lakes, and slow-moving waterways in parts of the Americas. In the United States, it is most famously associated with Florida,