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Platalea leucorodia
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. Even at their breeding colonies the main sounds are bill snapping, occasional deep grunting and occasional trumpeting noises.
The nest is a platform of sticks and vegetation which is either constructed on the ground on islands in lakes and rivers or in dense stands of reeds, bushes, mangroves or deciduous trees up to 5 m above the ground1. Within colonies neighbouring nests are usually quite close together, no more than 1 or 2m apart. Breeding colonies are normally sited within 10–15 km of feeding areas, often much less (although the species may also feed up to 35–40 km away).
17 Comments
Thanks Atul,
lovely series!
Thanks Emma ..
interesting Bill!
nice spot.
glad you like this,,
like this. good
Thanks Prashasti Prashantavanam ,,
Nice pic and info sachin bhai :-)
Thanks Aakash, this elegant bird is from Kankaria Lake, Ahmedabad,,
this lake is having wonderful shelter for lots of birds,
Great Spottings Sachinbhai....I was surprised to know that spoonbills are also found in Gujarat. Did you see it within Ahmedabad city?
Added new pic captures today morning,,
Thanks Bird Nerd
Thanks a lot to all .. .. ..
nice hair due
Nice series, and great hair-do!
Nice series Sachin...
Added Video,