African Spoonbill

About the African Spoonbill

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 species belongs to the genus Platalea, which also includes species such as the Black-faced spoonbill, Eurasian spoonbill, and Roseate spoonbill.

The African spoonbill 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. They feed by moving its flat bill side to side throughout shallow water, snapping up fish, molluscs, amphibians, crustaceans, and insects when detected. Long legs and thin, pointed toes enable it to walk easily through varying depths of water. Juveniles are born with shorter bills that gradually develop into the species' unique spoon-shaped form as they mature.

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... Wikipedia →