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Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

Least Concern
Longueur
81,0 cm
Envergure
127,0 cm
Poids
1500,0 g
Famille
Threskiornithidae
Ordre
Pelecaniformes

À propos

The roseate spoonbill is the only spoonbill species in the Americas and one of the most striking wading birds in the Western Hemisphere. Like flamingos, their pink color comes from carotenoid pigments in their crustacean prey. Nearly hunted to extinction for their plumes in the 19th century, they have recovered substantially.

Physical Description

Measurement Value Imperial
Body Length 81,0 cm 31.9 in
Envergure 127,0 cm 50.0 in
Poids 1500,0 g 52.91 oz

Identification

Plumage

Vivid pink body plumage with darker carmine on the wings. Bare greenish-grey head. White neck and back. Intensity of pink depends on diet.

Bec

Long, flat, spatulate greyish bill used for sweeping through shallow water

Habitat & Range

Shallow coastal lagoons, estuaries, mangroves, and freshwater marshes. Nests in colonies in trees and shrubs.

Répartition géographique

Southeastern United States, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America to Argentina.

Diet & Feeding

Small fish, crustaceans, aquatic insects, and plant material filtered from shallow water by sweeping the spoon-shaped bill side to side.

Statut de conservation

Least Concern
IUCN Red List

Comportement et reproduction

Nidification

Nest type: PL. Incubation: 22 days. Fledging: 42 days.

Taille de la couvée

1-7

Son

Chant

Low, grunting and guttural croaking sounds at nesting colonies. Generally quiet. Alarm calls are softer croaks. Vocalizations lack melodic quality; purely functional colony sounds.

Taxonomie

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Ordre Pelecaniformes (Pelicans & Herons)
Famille Threskiornithidae (Ibises & Spoonbills)
Genus Platalea
Espèces Platalea ajaja

Names in Other Languages

Language Name
German Rosalöffler
Spanish Espátula Rosada

Distribution

Roseate Spoonbill has been recorded in 4 countries.

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Présent Not recorded
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countries highlighted

External Databases

Foire aux questions

What does the Roseate Spoonbill eat?
Small fish, crustaceans, aquatic insects, and plant material filtered from shallow water by sweeping the spoon-shaped bill side to side.
Where does the Roseate Spoonbill live?
Shallow coastal lagoons, estuaries, mangroves, and freshwater marshes. Nests in colonies in trees and shrubs.
Is the Roseate Spoonbill endangered?
The Roseate Spoonbill has a conservation status of Least Concern.
How does the Roseate Spoonbill nest?
Nest type: PL. Incubation: 22 days. Fledging: 42 days.
What does the Roseate Spoonbill sound like?
Low, grunting and guttural croaking sounds at nesting colonies. Generally quiet. Alarm calls are softer croaks. Vocalizations lack melodic quality; purely functional colony sounds.
How big is the Roseate Spoonbill?
The Roseate Spoonbill has a body length of 81.0 cm, wingspan of 127.0 cm, weight of 1500.0 g.
What order and family does the Roseate Spoonbill belong to?
The Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) belongs to the order Pelecaniformes and the family Threskiornithidae.

Similar Birds

Other species in the Threskiornithidae family

Comparer

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