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Roseate spoonbill
Platalea ajaja
(Photo by FWC)
Taxonomic Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Threskiornithidae
Genus/Species: Platalea ajaja
Common Name: Roseate spoonbill
Listing Status
Federal Status: Not listed
FL Status: State Species of Special Concern
FNAI Ranks: G5/S2 (Globally: Demonstrably Secure/ State: Imperiled)
IUCN Status: LC (Least Concern)
Physical Description
The roseate spoonbill is the only spoonbill endemic (native) to the Western Hemisphere (Bjork
and Powell 1996). This species can reach a length of 30-40 inches (76-102 centimeters) with a
wingspan of 50-53 inches (127-135 centimeters). It has pink wings and underparts (with some
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red on the tops of the wings) with a white neck and back, and pinkish legs and feet. While the
species looks almost entirely pink in flight, they actually have no feathers at all on their heads.
The pink coloration comes from the organisms on which they feed, which are full of caroteniods
(organic pigment) (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, n.d.). As the name implies, the roseate
spoonbill also has a large, spoon-shaped bill, which it sweeps back and forth in shallow water to
capture prey.
Life History
The specialized bill has sensitive nerve endings which help the birds search for food in shallow
water. The diet of the roseate spoonbill primarily consists of crayfish, shrimp, crabs, and small
fish.
There is no sexual dimorphism (difference in form between individuals of different genders in
the same species) in roseate spoonbills. They nest in mixed colonies (near other wading bird
species) in mangroves or trees and though most breed on the coast, some nest inland. Nesting
habitats include coastal mangroves and dredged-made islands. (Florida Natural Areas Inventory
2001). The female builds the nest while the male retrieves the nesting materials. The female
lays up to three whitish-colored eggs and both adults incubate the eggs for up to 24 days
(Smithsonian National Zoological Park, n.d.). The young remain in the nest for approximately
35-42 days and are fed by both adults.
Habitat & Distribution
The roseate spoonbill is a resident breeder in
South America, generally east of the Andes,
and coastal areas of Central America, the
Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico (Dumas
2000). Mangrove islands and occasionally
dredge-spoil islands are the preferred
nesting habitat for the species. In Florida,
the species is found in Florida Bay, Tampa
Bay, and Brevard County.
Threats
One historical threat to the roseate spoonbill
was hunting for their feathers, though this
practice is now illegal which has allowed the
population to rebound. Another threat to the
spoonbill is the availability of adequate food
sources and habitat degradation. In the Florida Bay, the increased fresh water flow from the
Everglades may affect prey availability for the spoonbill. Other threats include habitat loss and
disturbance, pesticides, and illegal shootings (Dumas 2000).
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Conservation & Management
The roseate spoonbill is protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act and as a State Species
of Special Concern by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule.
-Biological Status Review (BSR)
-Supplemental Information for the BSR
Other Informative Links
Birds of North America
Florida Natural Areas Inventory
FWC Breeding Birds Atlas
FWC Species Profile
Encyclopedia of Life
Honolulu Zoo
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Reference
Bjork R.,G.V.N Powell., 1996. Roseate Spoonbill. Pages 295 – 308 in J.A. Rodgers, Jr., H.W.
Kale II, and H.T. Smith (Eds.). Rare and endangered biota of Florida, Vol. V: Birds.
University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Dumas, Jeannette V. 2000. Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja), The Birds of North America
Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of
North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/490
Florida Natural Areas Inventory. 2001. Field guide to the rare animals of Florida.
http://www.fnai.org/FieldGuide/pdf/Ajaia_ajaja.PDF. Accessed on 17 March 2011
Smithsonian National Zoological Park. (n.d.). Fact Sheets Roseate Spoonbill. Retrieved March 9,
2011, from Smithsonian National Zoological Park:
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Birds/Facts/FactSheets/fact-rosespoonbill.cfm
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. (n.d.). Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja). Retrieved May
4, 2011, from Texas Park and Wildlife:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/spoonbill/
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