The most specialized raptor in Iberá. Its bill is notably long, thin and strongly hooked, designed exclusively to extract the body of the apple snail (Pomacea) from its shell with a precise twist. The male's plumage is dark slate gray with white undertail coverts and a white tail base. The female and juveniles are brown with streaks. It measures 36 to 48 cm. The apple snail (Pomacea), a native and abundant mollusk of the wetland, is the almost exclusive food of this species.
Behaviour
The apple snail (Pomacea) makes up almost all of its diet. The snail kite spots it from flight or from a perch, descends, grabs it with its talons, and holds it against a branch to extract the animal with its hooked bill with surgical skill. Very social: it roosts in dense colonies.
How and when to see it
Year round. Unmistakable for the shape of its bill and its "snail-opening" behavior. The wetlands with a high density of apple snails, such as those of Portal Laguna Iberá, hold groups of dozens of individuals.
Where to see it in the Iberá
The gateways of the Great Iberá Park where snail kite has confirmed presence:
Tours to see it
Verified providers operating at the gateways where snail kite lives. You contact them directly on WhatsApp from the app.
- Esteros Ñe’é
Experiencias con relato local y mirada cultural sobre los esteros.★ 5.0 - Gaucho Argentino
Travesías a caballo por una red de refugios en el Iberá. Cabalgatas de varios días con…★ 5.0 - Irupé Excursiones
Senderismo guiado. Visita guiada a museos, lugares históricos, capillas y senderos del…★ 5.0 - Salvaje Iberá
Senderismo, cicloturismo, safari fotográfico, avistaje de fauna, paseos largos en el día…★ 5.0
Species profile
- Common nameSnail Kite
- Scientific nameRostrhamus sociabilis
- GroupBird
- StatusNative
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