Page 89 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

STORKS
Order Ciconiiformes Family Threskiornithidae Species Platalea leucorodia
Spoonbill bushy crest

black orange patch
wingtips all-white body under chin
outstretched
head

ADULT JUVENILE

IN FLIGHT
spoon-shaped
thick
black legs black bill,
tipped yellow
all-white
underwings
ADULT

pink bill turns
black with
age
ADULT
IMMATURE
quipped with a flattened, broad-tipped bill, the Spoonbill is
E heron-like, but as white as an egret. It is a bird of marshes and FLIGHT: strong, direct, swan-like, with head
lakes with extensive shallow water, but in winter it may also be outstretched; regular wingbeats.
found on coastal estuaries, striding through the shallows with its
rather human-like walk.This, and its tall, upstanding presence, make
it an unmistakable bird in Europe.
VOICE Silent.
NESTING Shallow platform of sticks
and reed stems in reeds or tree; in
colonies,rarely mixed with other species;
3 or 4 eggs; 1 brood;April–July.
FEEDING Holds bill slightly open, FLYING FLOCK SIDEWAYS SWEEP
partially submerged, and sweeps it Lines and chevrons of Spoonbills The Spoonbill wades slowly forwards in shallow water,
through water from side to side, to tend to coordinate short glides sweeping its partly open bill sideways until it detects
catch fish, molluscs, and crustaceans. between spells of steady wingbeats. food; the bill is then snapped shut on the prey.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Mostly found in E Europe, locally
much smaller in W, breeding around reedy lakes
and slimmer
smaller with surrounding bushes, but
bill
feeds on extensive salt pans,
LITTLE EGRET coastal marshes, and other areas
see p.80 of shallow water. Very few winter
short short in W Europe.
legs bill
MUTE SWAN Seen in the UK
similar in flight; see p.90 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 80–93cm (32–37in) Wingspan 1.2–1.35m (4–4 1 ⁄2ft) Weight 1–1.5kg (2 1 ⁄4 –3 1 ⁄4lb)
Social Small flocks Lifespan 25–30 years Status Endangered
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