Roseate Spoonbill

Overview
Roseate Spoonbill: Large ibis, pink body, white upper back, neck. Long bill, gray and spatulate. Head is bare and olive-green. Feeds while wading in shallow water, sweeping its bill back and forth. Sensitive nerve endings snap bill shut when prey is found. Alternates steady wing beats, short glides.

Range and Habitat
Roseate Spoonbill: Found on the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, and southern Florida; also in the American tropics. Preferred habitats include mangroves, saltwater lagoons, and large, shallow lakes.

The Roseate Spoonbill is a large wader that may be found in South America, the Caribbean and the Gulf coast of the United States. Nests are built in trees and mangroves. This species has long legs and a spatulate bill, with a body similar to that of the Flamingo. The Roseate Spoonbill feeds mainly on fish, crustaceans and shrimp. Food is caught in shallow fresh and coastal waters by swinging its bill from side to side. This species often feed in colonies as well. Due to maintained or increasing populations, the conservation status of the Roseate Spoonbill is currently listed as Least Concern.

INTERESTING FACTS
Roseate Spoonbill numbers declined in the early 1800's when the wings of this beautiful creature were made into fans. Their pink color is a result of eating crustaceans that have fed on algae. A group of roseate spoonbills are collectively known as a "bowl" of spoonbills.