Ajaia ajaja

Geographic Range

Roseate spoonbills occur from southern Georgia and Florida, south through Central American, the Caribbean, and South America to Argentina.

• Biogeographic Regions
• nearctic nearctic
  • native native
• neotropical neotropical
  • native native

Habitat

Roseate spoonbills are usually found in marsh like areas, especially mangrove swamps and mud flats. Spoonbills create large, deep, well-constructed nests out of sticks, much like the nests of herons, in mangrove trees.

• Habitat Regions
• temperate temperate
• terrestrial terrestrial
• saltwater or marine saltwater or marine
• freshwater freshwater

• Aquatic Biomes
• brackish water brackish water

• Wetlands
• marsh marsh

• Other Habitat Features
• estuarine estuarine

Physical Description

The upper neck and back of the Roseate Spoonbill are white. The wings and the under parts are a shade of light rose. The wings and the tail coverts are a deep carmine. The legs and the iris are red in color. Parts of the Spoonbills head is a distinct yellow-green. The most distinctive feature on the Spoonbill, is the spoon-like bill itself. The bill, which is spoon-like in shape from birth, flattens out at the end to aid in feeding. The Spoonbill is about 32" in length.

• Other Physical Features
• endothermic endothermic
• bilateral symmetry bilateral symmetry

Reproduction

• Key Reproductive Features
• iteroparous iteroparous
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual sexual
• oviparous oviparous

Lifespan/Longevity

Behavior

When Spoonbills fly, they fly in long, diagonal lines. Their necks and legs are completely stretched out at this time. The most unique characteristic about the spoonbill in terms of behavior, is that when it feeds, it moves it's spoon beak back and forth in a sweeping motion to catch food. The behavior of these birds is much like the behavior of all birds which habitat shallow, marsh-like habitats.

• Key Behaviors
• flies
• motile motile

Communication and Perception

• Perception Channels
• visual visual
• tactile tactile
• acoustic acoustic
• chemical chemical

Food Habits

The Roseate Spoonbill feeds in a special way. It uses its spoon-like bill to scoop various things from shallow water. By swishing the bill back and forth in the water, the Spoonbill is able to pick up minnows, small crustaceans, bits of plants and insects. The Spoonbill usually feeds in shallow, muddy water, usually found around its marshy or mangrove infested environment. While feeding, Spoonbills utter a low, gutteral sound.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

The Roseate Spoonbill is a species found mainly in Florida. Many avid bird watchers come to Florida to see this beautiful creature. This attraction, therefore, helps the economy. The feathers of the bird were heavily sought after in the middle of the century, but this practice has died out, due to the fact that the species almost became extinct.

Conservation Status

In the middle of the century, Roseate Spoonbills were heavily hunted for their brilliant and distinct red colored feathers. In recent years however, the Spoonbill has come back strong in certain isolated areas. Now, the main threat to the continuation of the species is the destruction of natural habitat. More and more shallow water habitats are being destroyed everyday. The survival of the Spoonbill depends on the survival of its habitat.

Additional Links

Encyclopedia of Life

Contributors

Ryan Detwiler (author), Cocoa Beach High School, Penny Mcdonald (editor), Cocoa Beach High School.

References

Kale, H., D. Maehr, K. Karalus. 1990. Florida's Birds: A Handbook and Reference . Sarasota, FL: Pineapple Press.

Wyly Hall, F. 1994. Birds of Florida . St. Petersburg, FL: Great Outdoor Publishing Co..