Everglade Snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus)
Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
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.
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This map represents our best available information about where a species is currently known to or or is believed to occur; however, it should NOT be used as an official species list for Section 7 Consultation purposes. To obtain an official species list for this purpose, please visit the Information, Planning, and Conservation (IPaC) System (click here: http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac)
- States/US Territories in which the Everglade Snail kite, FL pop. is known to or is believed to occur: Florida
- US Counties in which the Everglade Snail kite, FL pop. is known to or is believed to occur: View All
- 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
| Status | Date Listed | Lead Region | Where Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03/11/1967 | Southeast Region (Region 4) | U.S.A. (FL) |
» Recovery
Recovery Plan Information Search| Date | Title | Plan Action Status | Plan Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05/18/1999 | South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan (68 spp.) | View Implementation Progress | Final |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 09/27/2007 | Everglade Snail Kite 5-Year Review |
» Critical Habitat
| 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 | Final designated |
| 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 | Final designated |
| 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.
