Spoonbill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spoonbills |
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| Royal spoonbill | |
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Plataleinae
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Spoonbills are a type of large bird with long legs. They live in shallow water and are known for their unique bills. These birds belong to the same family as Ibises, called Threskiornithidae.
Spoonbills have a special bill that looks like a flat spoon. They use it to find food in the water. They sweep their partly-open bill from side to side. When a small creature like an insect, crab, or tiny fish touches the bill, it snaps shut! Spoonbills usually prefer fresh water, but they can also live in salty areas. They need to eat for many hours each day to get enough food.
Spoonbills usually have one partner for a single breeding season. Most species build their nests in trees or areas with lots of reeds. They often nest near ibises or herons.
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What Makes Spoonbills Special?
Spoonbills are different from ibises mainly because of their bill shape. Their bill is long, flat, and much wider at the end, like a spoon. The nostrils are at the base of the bill. This lets the bird breathe even when its bill is underwater.
Spoonbills have eyes that help them see in 3D (binocular vision). But when they are looking for food, their sense of touch is also very important. Like ibises, spoonbills have bare skin patches around their bills and eyes.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Spoonbills are known to have one partner during a breeding season. They build their nests in trees or reed beds. Sometimes, they nest close to ibises or herons. The male bird collects materials for the nest, mostly sticks and reeds. Sometimes, they even take materials from old nests. The female bird then weaves these materials into a large, shallow nest. The shape and strength of the nest can be different for each species.
The female spoonbill usually lays about three smooth, oval, white eggs. Both parents take turns sitting on the eggs to keep them warm. The chicks hatch one by one, not all at once. When they first hatch, the young birds are blind and cannot take care of themselves. Both parents feed them by bringing up partially digested food. The chicks' bills are short and straight at first. They only get their famous spoon shape as they grow older. The parents continue to feed the young birds for a few weeks after they leave the nest. If young birds don't survive, it's usually because they don't get enough food, not because of predators.
Types of Spoonbills and Where They Live
There are six different types of spoonbills found around the world.
| Species of Platalea | |||
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| Eurasian spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) |
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Adults and young birds are mostly white. They have black tips on their outer wings and dark bills and legs. They build nests in reed beds, usually by themselves. | This spoonbill is found in many places. It lives in northeast Africa and a large part of Europe and Asia, all the way to Japan. |
| Black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) |
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This species is very similar to the Eurasian Spoonbill. | You can find them in Taiwan, China, Korea, and Japan. |
| African spoonbill (Platalea alba) |
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A large white spoonbill, much like the Eurasian spoonbill. You can tell them apart by their pink face and usually lighter bill. They eat insects and other small creatures. They nest in trees, marshes, or on rocks. | They breed in Africa and Madagascar. |
| Royal spoonbill (Platalea regia) |
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A large white spoonbill with a black face. | Most common in southeast Australia. You can also find smaller numbers in other parts of Australia when there are temporary wetlands. They are also in New Zealand, especially the South Island. Sometimes, they wander to New Guinea, Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands. |
| Yellow-billed spoonbill (Platalea flavipes) |
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A white spoonbill with a yellow bill. | Lives in Southeast Australia. |
| Roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) |
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Adult birds are large and have pink feathers. | Found in South America, the Caribbean, and the Southeastern United States. |
Images for kids
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Royal spoonbill
See also
In Spanish: Plateínos para niños
