Common Spoonbill
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| Common Spoonbill | ||||||||||||||
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| Platalea leucorodia Linnaeus, 1758 |
The Common Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) is a wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. This species is widespread across southern Eurasia from Spain to Japan, and north Africa. Most birds migrate to the tropics in winter, with European breeders going to Africa.
It occurs in marshy wetlands with some open shallow water, nesting in colonies in trees or reedbeds. It does not usually share colonies with storks or herons. Usually four eggs are laid.
This species is almost unmistakable through most of its range. The breeding bird is all white except for its dark legs, black bill with a yellow tip, and a yellow breast patch like a pelican. It has a crest in the breeding season.
Non-breeders lack the crest and breast patch, and immatures have a pale bill and black tips to the primary flight feathers. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched.
Common Spoonbill differs from African Spoonbill in that the latter species has a red face and legs, and no crest.
This spoonbill feeds on various fish, frogs and other water creatures.de:Löffler nl:Lepelaar pl:Warzęcha zh:白琵鹭 fr:spatule blanche