22-3-2024 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - AFRICAN SPOONBILL (Platalea alba)

The African spoonbill (Platalea alba ) is a long-legged wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The species is widespread across Africa and Madagascar, including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

The African spoonbill is a long-legged wading bird that is almost unmistakable through most of its range. During the breeding season, the bird is all white except for its red legs and face and long grey spatulate bill. Immature birds lack the red face and have a yellow bill. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched.

African spoonbills are widespread across sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar, including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. They live in marshy wetlands with some open shallow water; these include river banks, lake shores, marshes, flood plains, reservoirs, and sometimes coastal lagoons and estuaries.

African spoonbills are social birds that are active during the day. Outside of the breeding season, they can be found singly, in pairs, or in small groups. These birds spend most of their time walking slowly in shallow water searching for food. They fish using their open bill to catch prey items by swinging it from side-to-side in the water. The moment any small aquatic creature touches the inside of the bill it is snapped shut. Long legs and thin, pointed toes enable them to walk easily through varying depths of water. When not foraging African spoonbills rest along the shores, often in groups; they are usually silent and only when alarmed produce loud grunts.

African spoonbills are monogamous and form pairs, however, some males may attempt to mate with more than one female during the breeding season (polygynous behavior). The birds begin breeding in the winter, which lasts until spring. They nest in colonies in trees or reedbeds. Their nest is built from sticks and reeds and lined with leaves. The female lays 3 to 5 eggs, usually during the months of April or May. The eggs are incubated by both parents for up to 29 days. Upon hatching the chicks are cared for by both parents for around 20 to 30 days and are ready to leave the nest soon afterward. They begin flying after another 4 weeks.

2-2-2024 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - AFRICAN SPOONBILL (Platalea alba)

The African spoonbill (Platalea alba) is a long-legged wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The species is widespread across Africa and Madagascar, including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

It lives in marshy wetlands with some open shallow water and nests in colonies in trees or reedbeds. They usually don't share colonies with storks or herons. The African spoonbill feeds in shallow water, and fishes for various fish, molluscs, amphibians, crustaceans, insects and larvae. The animal uses its open bill to catch foods by swinging it from side-to-side in the water, which catches foods in its mouth. Long legs and thin, pointed toes enable it to walk easily through varying depths of water.

The African spoonbill is almost unmistakable through most of its range. The breeding bird is all white except for its red legs and face and long grey spatulate bill. It has no crest, unlike the common spoonbill. Immature birds lack the red face and have a yellow bill. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched.

17-12-2022 PELICAN ISLAND, THE GAMBIA - AFRICAN SPOONBILL (Platalea alba)

The African spoonbill (Platalea alba) is a long-legged wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The species is widespread across Africa and Madagascar, including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

It lives in marshy wetlands with some open shallow water and nests in colonies in trees or reedbeds. They usually don't share colonies with storks or herons. The African spoonbill feeds in shallow water, and fishes for various fish, molluscs, amphibians, crustaceans, insects and larvae. The animal uses its open bill to catch foods by swinging it from side-to-side in the water, which catches foods in its mouth. Long legs and thin, pointed toes enable it to walk easily through varying depths of water.

The African spoonbill is almost unmistakable through most of its range. The breeding bird is all white except for its red legs and face and long grey spatulate bill. It has no crest, unlike the common spoonbill. Immature birds lack the red face and have a yellow bill. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched.

24-4-2022 CALYPSO BAR, GAMBIA - AFRICAN SPOONBILL (Platalea alba)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3734-Platalea-alba

24-10-2021 ATTICA ZOO ATHENS, GREECE - AFRICAN SPOONBILL (Platalea alba)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3734-Platalea-alba

 

9-9-2020 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - AFRICAN SPOONBILL (Platalea alba)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_spoonbill

7-6-2019 MOREMI CAMP, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN SPOONBILL (Platalea alba)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_spoonbill

1-4-2018 EDEN PLETTENBERG BAY, SOUTH AFRICA - AFRICAN SPOONBILL (Platalea alba)

13-9-2017 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - AFRICAN SPOONBILL (Platalea alba)

The African spoonbill, Platalea alba, is a striking wading bird belonging to the ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae. This species is characterized by its long legs, which facilitate wading through marshy wetlands, and its distinctive long grey spatulate bill, which is used to sift through shallow waters for food. Adult birds are predominantly white with red legs and a red face, while immature birds can be identified by their yellow bills and the absence of red on their faces.

When identifying the African spoonbill, look for a large, all-white bird with a unique spoon-shaped bill. During flight, unlike herons, spoonbills keep their necks outstretched. Breeding adults will exhibit more vibrant red coloration on their legs and face, and their bill will be grey. Juveniles can be distinguished by their paler bill color and lack of red facial markings.

The African spoonbill is found in marshy wetlands that have open shallow water. It prefers environments where it can wade and forage for food, such as in reedbeds or along the edges of bodies of water.

This bird has a widespread presence across Africa and Madagascar, with sightings reported in countries including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

African spoonbills are known for their methodical feeding technique, swinging their open bills side-to-side in the water to catch prey. They are sociable birds, often nesting in colonies, but they typically do not share these colonies with storks or herons. Their long legs and thin, pointed toes are perfectly adapted for navigating through varying water depths.

The African spoonbill is generally silent, but it may make soft grunting noises during the breeding season.

Breeding season for the African spoonbill occurs in the winter and extends into spring. During this time, males display more pronounced plumage and brighter colors. Nests are constructed from sticks and reeds in trees above water and lined with leaves. Females lay three to five eggs, primarily in April or May. Both parents share the responsibility of incubating the eggs for up to 29 days. After hatching, the chicks are cared for by both parents for approximately 20 to 30 days, becoming ready to fly four weeks post-fledging.

The African spoonbill can be confused with the common spoonbill; however, it lacks the crest found on the latter. Additionally, the common spoonbill has a yellowish bill, whereas the African spoonbill's bill is grey.

The diet of the African spoonbill includes a variety of fish, molluscs, amphibians, crustaceans, insects, and larvae. Its specialized bill allows it to efficiently sift through water to capture these prey items.

The IUCN Red List classifies the African spoonbill as Least Concern, indicating that the species currently faces no significant threats to its survival. It is also protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).

21-6-2016 BIOPARC,VALENCIA - AFRICAN SPOONBILL (Platalea alba)

The African spoonbill is a long-legged wading bird that is almost unmistakable through most of its range. During the breeding season, the bird is all white except for its red legs and face and long grey spatulate bill. Immature birds lack the red face and have a yellow bill. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched.

African spoonbills are widespread across sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar, including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. They live in marshy wetlands with some open shallow water; these include river banks, lake shores, marshes, flood plains, reservoirs, and sometimes coastal lagoons and estuaries.

African spoonbills are social birds that are active during the day. Outside of the breeding season, they can be found singly, in pairs, or in small groups. These birds spend most of their time walking slowly in shallow water searching for food. They fish using their open bill to catch prey items by swinging it from side-to-side in the water. The moment any small aquatic creature touches the inside of the bill it is snapped shut. Long legs and thin, pointed toes enable them to walk easily through varying depths of water. When not foraging African spoonbills rest along the shores, often in groups; they are usually silent and only when alarmed produce loud grunts.

African spoonbills are monogamous and form pairs, however, some males may attempt to mate with more than one female during the breeding season (polygynous behavior). The birds begin breeding in the winter, which lasts until spring. They nest in colonies in trees or reedbeds. Their nest is built from sticks and reeds and lined with leaves. The female lays 3 to 5 eggs, usually during the months of April or May. The eggs are incubated by both parents for up to 29 days. Upon hatching the chicks are cared for by both parents for around 20 to 30 days and are ready to leave the nest soon afterward. They begin flying after another 4 weeks.

Population size

7,300-73,000

Life Span

15-30 years

Weight

1.3-2

kglbs

kg lbs 

Height

90

cminch

cm inch 

Wingspan

120-135

cminch