The Spoonbill

The name Spoonbill is one given to six different birds within the Threskiornithidae family of birds. The waterbird is recognisable due to its bill, from where the bird gets its name.

Spoonbills are large birds, with long legs, legs which have evolved to allow them to wade through shallow water in search of food. Equally the bills of the Spoonbills have evolved to help them with this search as well. The bill is large, flat and reminiscent of a spoon. Colours for the bird and bill vary between types, although most are white with black bills.

Unlike many waterfowl and birds, the Spoonbills are normally solitary birds, rarely found in large flocks, nor will they accommodate other birds living close to them.

The African Spoonbill - Steve Roetz - CC-BY-2.0

There are as previously mentioned six different spoonbills, although they share many common features. There is the African Spoonbill, a large white bird, with pink face, and nests in African marshes. The Black-faced Spoonbill is an Asian variety, with its name representing its most distinguishing feature against a predominantly white body. The Eurasian Spoonbill is found across Europe and Asia, and even makes a presence in Africa. The Roseate Spoonbill is to be found in North, Central and South America, and is identifiable amongst the mangroves because of its bright pink colouring. Royal Spoonbills are found in Australasia and the Pacific Island, as is the Yellow-billed Spoonbill.

In the United Kingdom it is the Eurasian Spoonbill, Platalea Leucorodia, which can be seen, although only if you are lucky. There are only about fifty of the birds that can be seen in such places as the Exe Estuary reserves and East Anglia coastline.

The Eurasian Spoonbill - Andreas Trepte, www.photo-natur.de - CC-BY-SA-2.5

All Spoonbills tend to eat a similar diet, mainly consisting of small fish and aquatic insects. The bill has evolved to help with the feeding process. The bill being swept from side to side through the shallow water as the bird waded; any food that enters the bill cannot escape, as it shuts as soon as it is detected. It is not the most efficient form of feeding though, and Spoonbills do spend a high proportion of their day feeding.

Problems of gathering food do lead to some issues when it comes to breeding. Male and female Spoonbills mate for the season before separating, but during the season, the males will gather the material for the nest whilst the females make them. The nests are either low lying in amongst the reeds, or high up in trees.

On average the female will then lay three eggs, before each parent takes turns at incubating the eggs. The problems arise though on hatching, and a lack of food is the primary reason why the Spoonbill chicks fail to reach maturity.

The Spoonbills are relatively under threat and there are few places in the world where the unusual looking bird can be said to be common. Whenever people do get to see them though they are a bird that is hard to forget because of that great bill of theirs.