Eurasian Spoonbill

Platalea leucorodia

Genus · Spoonbills Family · Ibises and Spoonbills
Observation tips Difficulty: MODERATE
Best time
🕒 Any
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
Coastal shallowsMarineMarshy grasslandReed beds

Look for the side-to-side feeding action. In flight, they look like white herons but fly with their necks stretched out straight.

Eurasian Spoonbill
Stats
Wingspan115–145 cm
Weight1100–2000 g
Length80–95 cm
Lifespan wild10–28 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typePlatform
Clutch size3–4 eggs
Incubation24–26 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationPartial migratory
Social BehaviourColonial

Diet: Omnivore

🦀Crustaceans
🐟Fish
🐸Frogs
🦗Insects
🐚Mollusks

Habitat

🌊 Marine🌾 Marsh🏞️ River
✦ Fun Fact

Spoonbill chicks hatch with a short, straight bill. The characteristic 'spoon' shape only develops after a few weeks.

About

A large white waterbird with a long, flat, spatula-shaped bill. It is a summer visitor to some European wetlands. It has pure white plumage. Breeding adults feature a bushy crest and a yellow patch at the base of the neck. It is a social bird found in shallow lagoons and reedbeds.

Behaviour

Spoonbills use a unique 'mowing' motion to feed. They wade through shallow water and swing their partially open bill from side to side to catch fish and insects. They nest in colonies in reedbeds or low trees. In flight, their neck and legs are fully extended.

Similar species

Great Egret
🐦
Great Egret
Ardea alba
White Stork
🐦
White Stork
Ciconia ciconia
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