Difference between revisions of "Roseate Spoonbill" - BirdForum Opus

Latest revision as of 15:13, 24 August 2023

Photo © by bobsofpa
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, USA, February 2007

Platalea ajaja

Ajaia ajaja

Identification

Juvenile
Photo © by dacol
Cedar Key, Florida, September 2016

30-32 in (76-81 cm) tall
Ws. 4ft 5in (1.3m)

Unmistakable
Long-legged, long-necked
Long, spatulate bill

Adult

Photo © by STEFFRO1
Huntington Beach State Park, South Carolina, October 2018

Bare greenish head
White neck, breast, and back
Deep pink otherwise
Grey bill
Rich crimson shoulder
Orange tail

Sexes similar
Immature

White feathered heads
Paler pink
Yellowish or pinkish bill

Distribution

It is a mainly resident breeder in South America, the Caribbean, and the Gulf coast of the USA.

Early in the 20th century their numbers were severely depleted by plume hunters, but with protective laws they have increased once again.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

Platalea vs. Ajaia

Many authorities (AOU, 2002; SACC, 2003; Clements, 2005) have placed this lone species in Platalea in light of Hancock et al. (1992) and Banks et al. (2002). Sibley & Monroe (1996) and Howard & Moore (2003) retain Roseate Spoonbill's monotypic placement in Ajaia.

Habitat

Nests in mangrove trees.

Behaviour

A banded bird was found to be 16 years old in 2006, the oldest known individual.

Breeding

The clutch consists of 2-5 eggs. It does not usually share colonies with storks or herons.

Diet

These birds spend much time feeding in the shallow waters of Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico on shrimp, small fish, snails, and aquatic insects, which they detect by their sense of touch as they rhythmically sweep their "spoon-shaped" bills from side to side as they walk steadily through the water, often in groups.

Vocalisation

Low croaks and clucking sounds.

References

Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Search.com

List of references

Recommended Citation

BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Roseate Spoonbill. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 2 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Roseate_Spoonbill

External Links

Search for photos of Roseate Spoonbill in the gallery

Search for videos of Roseate Spoonbill in the gallery

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-;Ajaia ajaja
+[[Image:8242607-02629fg Roseate Spoonbill.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}} <br />[[Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge]], [[Florida]], [[USA]], February 2007]]
-[[Image:8242607-02629fg Roseate Spoonbill.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo by bobsofpa<br />Photo taken:Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL, USA .]]
+;[[:Category:Platalea|Platalea]] ajaja
-==Description==
+''Ajaia ajaja''
-The Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja, sometimes separated in the monotypic genus Ajaja) is a wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. It is a mainly resident breeder in South America, the Caribbean, and the Gulf coast of the USA.
+==Identification==
+[[Image:Roseate SpoonbillDacol.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|dacol|dacol}}<br />Cedar Key, [[Florida]], September 2016]]
-Roseate Spoonbill nests in mangrove trees, laying 2-5 eggs. It does not usually share colonies with storks or herons.
+-32 in (76-81 cm) tall<br/>
+Ws. 4ft 5in (1.3m)
-This species is unmistakable. It is 80cm tall, with a 120cm wingspan. It is long-legged, long-necked and has a long, spatulate bill. Adults have a bare greenish head, white neck, breast and back, and are otherwise a deep pink. The bill is grey.
+*Unmistakable
+*Long-legged, long-necked
-Sexes are similar, but immature birds have white feathered heads and the pink of the plumage is paler. The bill is yellowish or pinkish. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched. In 2006, a banded bird 16 years old was discovered, the oldest known individual.[1]
+*Long, spatulate bill
+====Adult====
-This species feeds in shallow fresh or coastal waters on fish, frogs and other water creatures, swinging its bill from side to side as it steadily walks through the water, often in groups
+[[Image:Roseate Spoonbills 74 4402.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|STEFFRO1|STEFFRO1}}<br />[[Huntington Beach State Park]], [[South Carolina]], October 2018]]
+*Bare greenish head
-==Identification: ==
+*White neck, breast, and back
--32" (76-81 cm). W. 4'5" (1.3 m). Bill long and straight with broad spatulate tip from which the bird gets its name. Mainly white, with brilliant pink wings and flanks, and orange tail; shoulder rich crimson. Immature pale pink and white.
+*Deep pink otherwise
+*Grey bill
+*Rich crimson shoulder
-==Habitat: ==
+*Orange tail
-Mangroves and saltwater lagoons.
-==Nesting: ==
-or 3 dull-white eggs, with dark spots and blotches, in a bulky nest of sticks built in a low bush or tree. Nests in colonies.
-==Range: ==
+Sexes similar<br />
-Resident locally on coasts of Texas, Louisiana (rare), and southern Florida. Also in American tropics.
+'''Immature'''
+*White feathered heads
+*Paler pink
+*Yellowish or pinkish bill
+==Distribution==
+It is a mainly resident breeder in [[South America]], the [[Caribbean]], and the Gulf coast of the [[USA]].
+Early in the 20th century their numbers were severely depleted by plume hunters, but with protective laws they have increased once again.
+==Taxonomy==
+This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.
+====''Platalea'' vs. ''Ajaia''====
+Many authorities (AOU, 2002; SACC, 2003; Clements, 2005) have placed this lone species in ''[[:Category:Platalea|Platalea]]'' in light of Hancock et al. (1992) and Banks et al. (2002). Sibley & Monroe (1996) and Howard & Moore (2003) retain Roseate Spoonbill's monotypic placement in ''[[Ajaia]]''.
-==Voice: ==
+==Habitat==
+Nests in mangrove trees.
+==Behaviour==
+A banded bird was found to be 16 years old in 2006, the oldest known individual.
+====Breeding====
+The clutch consists of 2-5 eggs. It does not usually share colonies with storks or herons.
+====Diet====
+These birds spend much time feeding in the shallow waters of Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico on shrimp, small fish, snails, and aquatic insects, which they detect by their sense of touch as they rhythmically sweep their "spoon-shaped" bills from side to side as they walk steadily through the water, often in groups.
+====Vocalisation====
 Low croaks and clucking sounds.
+==References==
+#{{Ref-Clements6thAug18}}#Search.com
+{{ref}}
+==External Links==
+{{GSearch|"Platalea ajaja" {{!}} "Ajaia ajaja" {{!}}  "Roseate Spoonbill"}}
+<br />
+{{VSearch|"Platalea ajaja" {{!}} "Ajaia ajaja" {{!}}  "Roseate Spoonbill"}}
+{{GS-checked}}1
+<br />
+<br />
+[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Ajaia]] [[Category: Platalea]] [[Category: Videos]]
-==Discussion: ==
-These birds spend much time feeding in the shallow waters of Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico on shrimp, small fish, snails, and aquatic insects, which they detect by their sense of touch as they rhythmically sweep their "spoon-shaped" bills from side to side. Early in the century their numbers were severely depleted by plume hunters, but with protective laws they have increased once again.</i>
-==Identification==
-This photograph has been one of the most commented on pictures of the gallery.
-==Northeast Florida, St. John's County==
-Roseate Spoonbills are becoming more common in this part of the state, and breeding here.
-''Originally posted by '''tsiya'''''
-==External Links==
-*{{GSearch|Roseate+Spoonbill}}
-[[Category:Birds]]