Species Type:
Birds
Common Name(s):
Roseate spoonbill
Size:
Roseate spoonbills can grow to about 2.5 feet (80 centimeters) tall and reach a wingspan of 4 feet (120 centimeters), making them skilled aviators!
Diet:
Small fish such as minnows and killifish, shrimp, crayfish, crabs, aquatic insects, mollusks, slugs, the occasional root or stem of sedges.
Range & Habitat:
Residing in coastal environments, roseate spoonbills can be found in Florida, Texas and southern Louisiana. In South America, they have been spotted in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.
Details:
Pink in color with a long, narrow beak, roseate spoonbills are similar in appearance to flamingos, but they also have features that are unique to them. For example, spoonbills have a spoon-shaped bill to help them fish for prey, hence their name. Their long legs also help them search for food, allowing them to wade in aquatic marsh-like areas and mangroves. Eating large amounts of small fish and aquatic invertebrates, like shrimp, roseate spoonbills can turn a pinkish color. In the late 1800s, roseate spoonbills were targeted and hunted for their fashion-forward pink feathers to the extend that they became an endangered species. After many years of conservation efforts, the species is considered stable again.