General Information

The Roseate Spoonbill is sometimes separated in the monotypic genus Ajaja. It is a wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae.

Physical Description

The Roseate Spoonbill is a large ibis with a pink body and white upper back and neck. The bill is long, gray, and spatulate. Sexes are similar. The juvenile is white with a hint of pink and has yellow bill. It weighs 1,496 g and is 30-40 in. in length.

Diet

The Roseate Spoonbill eats minnows, small crustaceans, bits of plants, and insects. It forages by swishing its spoon-like bill from side to side in shallow, muddy water. While feeding, utters a low, guttural sound.

Habitat

Found on the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, and southern Florida, the Roseaste Spoonbill is also found in the American tropics. Prefer habitats include mangroves, saltwater lagoons, and large, shallow lakes.

Reproduction

Breeding location is normally near the seashore in rocky or sandy areas. They also prefer open landscapes. The nest is made on a platform with a deep hollow center. Roseate Spoonbill: Two or three dull-white eggs with dark markings are laid in a bulky nest made of sticks and built in a low bush or tree. Incubation ranges from 22 to 24 days and is carried out by both parents.