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Platalea ajaja
Gregarious wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family.
Gulf Coast of the United States
The Roseate Spoonbill is 80 cm (31 in) tall, with a 120–130 cm (47–51 in) wingspan. 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.
Thank You, got this while kayaking at cockroach bay inTampa they are beautiful birds
And yes these birds are one of my favorites I love spotting them , always a treat
Thank You , These are one of my favorites to spot and I never tire of photographing them, or just sitting and watching them, Thanks Again, I did very well in the contest, I lost to Paul Hassell a Professional Photographer by about 17 votes, for me it was an honor to have just been picked as a finalist in the contest
Michelle, we were disappointed you didn't win the NWF photo challenge and wanted to make sure your photo earned the recognition it deserved. Congratulations for capturing a beautiful series.