Spoonbill Album

A peek at Florida's Nature

Spoonbill Album

The Roseate Spoonbill is usually a shy, reclusive bird, but one Saturday evening in February this spoonbill decided to take a bath in plain sight. It turned in every direction - left, right, front, back - and posed with wings up and wings down. This bird put on a very interesting show.

All of these images are Copyright J.A. Heintz.

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An adult Roseate Spoonbill

Adults have red markings

And a dark headband

The bill is like a spoon

These photos were taken in Palm Harbor, Florida.

Some quick facts about Roseate Spoonbills:

Roseate Spoonbills are about 32" tall, approximately 80 cm.
At a glance they appear pink.
They have long white necks.
Adults have a red marking on each wing.
They have a long flat bill that is spoon-shaped at the end.
They have long red legs.
Their feet are not webbed.
They have red eyes.
Their wings are pink underneath.
The adults have orange tails.
They eat fish, shrimp, water insects, worms and snails.
To catch food, they stand in shallow water and swish their bills from side to side and sift food from the water and the soft bottom.
They are often seen with herons.
They are reclusive and will take flight if disturbed or startled.
Young Roseate Spoonbills are pale pink.