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Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

Description:

Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Merritt Island, Florida. << Like the American Flamingo, their pink color is diet-derived, consisting of the carotenoid pigment canthaxanthin. Another carotenoid, astaxanthin, can also be found deposited in flight and body feathers. The colors can range from pale pink to bright magenta, depending on age and location. >>

Habitat:

The Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja, (sometimes placed in its own genus Ajaja) is a gregarious wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae. It is a resident breeder in South America mostly east of the Andes, and in coastal regions of the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and the Gulf Coast of the United States. The Roseate Spoonbill is 71–86 cm (28–34 in) long, with a 120–130 cm (47–51 in) wingspan and a body mass of 1.2–1.8 kg (2.6–4.0 lb). It has long legs, a long neck, and a long, spatulate bill. 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. Like the American Flamingo, their pink color is diet-derived, consisting of the carotenoid pigment canthaxanthin. Another carotenoid, astaxanthin, can also be found deposited in flight and body feathers. The colors can range from pale pink to bright magenta, depending on age and location. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched. They alternate groups of stiff, shallow wingbeats with glides. (credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseate_Spo......)

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8 Comments

MelissaFerguson
MelissaFerguson 12 years ago

The Refuge is an awesome place to visit. You have captured the beauty of these birds beautifully! Thanks for sharing with Florida's Flora & Fauna!

auntnance123
auntnance123 12 years ago

Very nice. The Refuge never disappoints.

Wild Things
Wild Things 12 years ago

Beautiful birds, beautiful colours.

ChristyHolland
ChristyHolland 12 years ago

Wonderful series! Love these birds!

Atul
Atul 12 years ago

lovely series!

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

Wow!

AshleyCollins
AshleyCollins 12 years ago

Great shots!!!

ceherzog
ceherzog 12 years ago

They have some bright color...gotta get to Merritt Island!

JackEng
Spotted by
JackEng

Florida, USA

Spotted on Jan 25, 2008
Submitted on Feb 7, 2012

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Reference

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