These handsome gray-and-black raptors have a delicate, strongly curved bill that fits inside the snail shells to pull out the juicy prey inside. Each gray-and-white male may mate with several females, which are larger and brown. The Northern Harrier is distinctive from a long distance away: a slim, long-tailed hawk gliding low over a marsh or grassland, holding its wings in a V-shape and sporting a white patch at the base of its tail. In flight shows a white tail with broad dark distal band and narrow gray terminal band. The Northern Harrier is distinctive from a long distance away: a slim, long-tailed hawk gliding low over a marsh or grassland, holding its wings in a V-shape and sporting a white patch at the base of its tail. Up close it has an owlish face that helps it hear mice and voles beneath the vegetation. These handsome gray-and-black raptors have a delicate, strongly curved bill that fits inside the snail shells to pull out the juicy prey inside. Basic Description. Up close it has an owlish face that helps it hear mice and voles beneath the vegetation. Long legs are bright orange or red. The highly specialized Snail Kite flies on broad wings over tropical wetlands as it hunts large freshwater snails. Feeds on snails. Also personally observed for the first time was a Tropical Kingbird; a bird species that I need to leave for you to identify at the end of the article as I am not yet qualified to distinguish it from Western Kingbird. Flies on slow shallow wing beats followed by glides. Each gray-and-white male may mate with several females, which are larger and brown. Snail Kite: A large bird, dark blue black overall with extremely hooked thin black bill with reddish base. The highly specialized Snail Kite flies on broad wings over tropical wetlands as it hunts large freshwater snails.