Eurasian Spoonbill vs Roseate Spoonbill

Eurasian Spoonbill

Platalea leucorodia

Huge1.9 kgWetland

This species is almost unmistakable in 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 immature birds have a pale bill and black tips to the primary flight feathers. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched. The Eurasian spoonbill differs from the African spoonbill with which in overlaps in winter, in that the latter species has a red face and legs, and no crest. They are mostly silent.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Sonothèque ADVL · Begging call · Saint-Jean-le-Thomas, Manche, Normandie, France · CC0

Photo: Hobbyfotowiki · CC0

Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

Large1.5 kgWetland

The roseate spoonbill is 71–86 cm (28–34 in) long, with a 120–133 cm (47–52 in) wingspan and a body mass of 1.2–1.8 kg (2.6–4.0 lb). The tarsus measures 9.7–12.4 cm (3.8–4.9 in), the culmen measures 14.5–18 cm (5.7–7.1 in) and the wing measures 32.3–37.5 cm (12.7–14.8 in) and thus the legs, bill, neck and spatulate bill all appear elongated. Adults have a bare greenish head ("golden buff" when breeding) and a white neck, back and breast (with a tuft of pink feathers in the center when breeding), and are otherwise a deep pink. The bill is grey. There is no significant sexual dimorphism.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: JeffreyGammon · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Eurasian Spoonbill and Roseate Spoonbill.