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Hawks and Eagles (Accipitridae)

Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) - HBW 2, p. 116

French: Milan des marais German: Schneckenweih Spanish: Caracolero Común
Other common names: Everglade Kite (plumbeus)

Taxonomy: Herpetotheres sociabilis Vieillot, 1817, Corrientes, near Río de la Plata, Argentina.
Highly specialized genus, with no clear taxonomic affinities to other genera. Cuban population sometimes awarded separate race, levis. Three subspecies currently recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • plumbeus Ridgway, 1874 - Florida Everglades (SE USA), Cuba and I of Pines.
  • major Nelson & Goldman, 1933 - E Mexico and Petén (Guatemala).
  • sociabilis (Vieillot, 1817) - Honduras and Nicaragua through Panama to South America, occurring W of Andes in Colombia and Ecuador, and E of Andes throughout to NE Argentina, except Guyana Massif and Brazilian Plateau.

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