A meal with a Snail Kite

Snail Kites are medium-sized birds of prey. Their favorite food is the apple snail, and their curved bills are ideally suited for extracting snails from their shells.

Snail kite settling onto a perch.

When it is time to eat the snail kite takes flight in search of apple snails. They drop onto the snail and secure them in their talons.

Once they settle onto a perch, the steps of eating an apple snail begin.

Step 1.

Move the snail to the bill.

Step 2.

Gain access to the snail. This requires removing the operculum, the “door” that seals off the shell.

Step 3.

Once removed, the operculum is discarded.

Step 4.

Now the work begins to extract the snail from the shell.

Step 5.

With the snail extracted, there is an opportunity for a quick check to be sure shell is empty.

Step 6.

The empty shell is discarded.

Step 7.

All that remains is to enjoy a tasty snail meal…

Step 8.

…and fly away with a full belly and a smile.