Birds of North Carolina:
their Distribution and Abundance
Snail Kite - Rostrhamus sociabilis
ACCIPITRIDAE Members: 		Search Common:                 Search Scientific:
General Comments This rare (Federally listed) species is normally found only from central Florida southward, and is mostly non-migratory. One of the more shocking records in recent years was the discovery of an adult male Snail Kite at some crayfish ponds near Rimini, South Carolina, in spring 2007. The bird remained for nearly a month, and was seen by practically all who made the trip. Not to be outdone, North Carolina got its own record -- the northernmost ever recorded -- in spring 2009, when an adult male was found dead on 10 April in the Crusoe Island section of Columbus* [Chat 74:35-37 link]. The dead bird is now a specimen at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.
Breeding Status Nonbreeder
NC BRC List Definitive
State Status
U.S. Status
State Rank SA
Global Rank G4G5
Coastal Plain One record (see above).
Piedmont No records.
Mountains No records.
Finding Tips
1/2 *
Attribution LeGrand[2018-02-01], LeGrand[2012-05-15], LeGrand[2011-11-26]
NC Map
Map depicts all counties with a report (transient or resident) for the species.		Click on county for list of all known species.
NA Maps
(source NatureServe)

View NatureServe distribution maps for Rostrhamus sociabilis