Eurasian Spoonbill
Platalea leucorodia
The Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) is a common ibises and spoonbill found in 102 countries, weighing about 1.9 kg. The Eurasian spoonbill, or common spoonbill, is a wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae, native to Europe, Africa and Asia.
About the Eurasian Spoonbill
The Eurasian spoonbill, or common spoonbill, is a wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae, native to Europe, Africa and Asia. The species is partially migratory with the more northerly breeding populations mostly migrating south for the winter.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
What the Eurasian Spoonbill sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Luxembourg, Finland, Martinique, St. Lucia, Macao SAR China, North Korea, Isle of Man, Myanmar (Burma), Gibraltar, Kosovo.
When to see it
The Eurasian Spoonbill can be seen all year round, with peak activity in September. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Eurasian Spoonbill?
- This species is almost unmistakable in most of its range. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Eurasian Spoonbill?
- The Eurasian Spoonbill is a huge sized bird weighing about 1.9 kg.
- Where can you see a Eurasian Spoonbill?
- The Eurasian Spoonbill occurs in 102 countries, including Spain, France, India, Belgium and Portugal.
- What does a Eurasian Spoonbill sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Eurasian Spoonbill on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Eurasian Spoonbill?
- The Eurasian Spoonbill is most easily confused with the Roseate Spoonbill, the Royal Spoonbill and the African Spoonbill.
- Is the Eurasian Spoonbill endangered?
- The Eurasian Spoonbill is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Eurasian Spoonbill for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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