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 talons, and carries it to a perch. Using its curved bill, the kite carefully extracts the soft body from the shell, leaving the empty shell behind. This feeding behavior is so specialized that snail kites rarely consume any other prey, even when snails are scarce.
Because of this dietary dependence, the distribution of snail kites closely mirrors that of suitable snail populations. In Florida, the bird is found primarily in the Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, and connected wetlands. Outside the United States, snail kites range through parts of Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, where wetland systems support similar snail species. Despite this broader range, the Florida population is the most studied and one of the most vulnerable.
The life cycle of the snail kite is closely tied to water levels and wetland conditions. Breeding typically occurs when water levels are stable and food is abundant. Nests are built in shrubs, small trees, or dense vegetation above water, providing protection from many ground predators. The nest itself is a platform of sticks and plant material, often reused or repaired across seasons. Females usually lay two to four eggs, which are incubated for about a month. Both parents participate in feeding the chicks, delivering snails to the nest until the young are strong enough to feed themselves shutdown123