The Roseate Spoonbill is a wading bird often seen with heron, egrets and ibis. They are large birds about 32 inches. Some winter here, but during colder years may migrate during the winter to Central and South America.
They often mate for life with male and female sharing equal nest responsibilities. The males court by bringing nesting materials as they make quite sturdy nests.
Their coloration can be many shades of pink from shell pink to magenta. Their coloration is diet driven. The more carotenoid critters they get such as shrimp, the pinker they become. Adults have bald heads that are greenish, white necks, pink bodies and reddish long legs.
And, of course, is their distinctive spoon-shaped bill that they use to strain small food items out of the water such as aquatic beetles, frogs, and newts as well as shrimp. In the US, they are only on the Texas Gulf Coast and Florida. Unlike Herons, they fly with out-stretched necks.
Photos copyrighted by Margaret Sloan. View her full photo album, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link.
Learn how to attract birds to your garden, enjoy the Quail Valley Garden's Club visit and tour of Margaret's backyard.
