General Description: Snail Kites (Rostrhamus sociabilis) are small, tropical hawks with broad wings, dark colors, and a white band across the base of the tail.

Taxonomy: Accipitriformes, Accipitridae, Milvinae.

Where to Find: Don't look for Snail Kites around Las Vegas. Rather, look for them in the Everglades of south Florida, Central America, and in eastern South America. In the Everglades, perhaps the easiest place to see them is along the Tamiami Trail at the defunct Chief Osceola Airboat Tours parking area (Highway 41, 1.0 miles west of Shark Valley Road).

Comments: These hawks eat apple snails (Pomacea sp.) and little else.