Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Everglade Snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Aves
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Accipitridae

Listing Status:   

General Information

The Everglade snail kite is a medium-sized hawk with a wingspan of about 45 inches, very similar to the marsh hawk but without wavering, tilting flight. The beak is slender and very hooked. The adult males are slate gray with black head and wing tips, a white patch at the base of a square tail, and red legs. The female has a buffy body, heavily streaked with dark lines, a white line above the eye, a white tail patch, yellow legs, and red eyes. The immatures resemble the females, only they are darker and their eyes are brown. The snail kite is uniquely adapted for a diet almost exclusively of freshwater apple snails (Pomacea paludosa). As of 1987, there were only five documented occurrences of Everglade snail kites preying on non-snail items. Exclusive utilization of the genus Pomacea is apparently because this is the only large Florida snail occurring near the surface. The kite extracts the snail from the shell by means of its greatly curved beak.

Lead Region:  Southeast Region (Region 4)
Date Listed: Mar 11, 1967
Where Listed: U.S.A. (FL)

  • States/US Territories in which the Everglade Snail kite, FL pop. is known to occur:  Florida
  • USFWS Refuges in which the Everglade Snail kite, FL pop. is known to occur:  ARTHUR R. MARSHALL LOXAHATCHEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , FLORIDA PANTHER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , LAKE WOODRUFF NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
  • For more information:  http://www.fws.gov/Endangered/i/b/sab0v.html

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 7 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
03/26/2007 72 FR 14132 14133 Notice of Availability of a Final Implementation Schedule for the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan
09/27/2006 71 FR 56545 56547 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Review of 37 Southeastern Species
04/02/2004 69 FR 17442 17443 Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Implementation Schedule for the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan
09/22/1977 42 FR 47840 47845 Final Correction and Augumentation of Critical Habitat Reorganization; 42 FR 47840 47845
08/11/1977 42 FR 40685 40690 Determination of Critical Habitat for Six Endangered Species Including Palila, Renumbering of Critical Habitat Listings; 42 FR 40685 40690 (Florida Everglades kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus; American peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus anatum; palila Psittirostra bailleui; dusky seaside sparrow, Ammospiza maritima nigrescens; Cape Sable sparrow, Ammospiza maritima mirabilis; Morro Bay kangaroo rat, Dipodomus heermanni morroensis)

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
05/18/1999 South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan (68 spp.) View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 3 of 3 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
03/26/2007 72 FR 14132 14133 Notice of Availability of a Final Implementation Schedule for the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan
  • Notice Recovery Plan Avail.
    • 09/27/2006 71 FR 56545 56547 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Review of 37 Southeastern Species
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
    • 04/02/2004 69 FR 17442 17443 Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Implementation Schedule for the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan
  • Notice Draft Recovery Plan Availability
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    09/27/2007 Everglade Snail Kite 5-Year Review

    » Critical Habitat

    Current Critical Habitat Documents (Showing 3 of 3 )
    Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
    09/22/1977 42 FR 47840 47845 Final Correction and Augumentation of Critical Habitat Reorganization; 42 FR 47840 47845 Final Rule Active
    08/11/1977 42 FR 40685 40690 Determination of Critical Habitat for Six Endangered Species Including Palila, Renumbering of Critical Habitat Listings; 42 FR 40685 40690 (Florida Everglades kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus; American peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus anatum; palila Psittirostra bailleui; dusky seaside sparrow, Ammospiza maritima nigrescens; Cape Sable sparrow, Ammospiza maritima mirabilis; Morro Bay kangaroo rat, Dipodomus heermanni morroensis) Final Rule Active
    12/03/1976 41 FR 53074 53075 Proposed Determination of Critical Habitat for Florida Everglade Kite and Dusky Sea Sparrow; 41 FR 53074 53075 (Rostrhamus sociobilis plumbeus, Ammospiza maritima nigrescens) Proposed Rule Not Required

    To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

    » Conservation Plans

    No conservation plans have been created for Everglade Snail kite, FL pop.

    » Petitions

    No petition findings have been published for the Everglade Snail kite, FL pop..

    » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 21, 2009