Subspecies
Genus | Species | subspecies | Region | Range |
Platalea | minor | EU | e |
Genus
Platelea or Spoonbills are a group of large, long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae, which also includes the Ibises. Spoonbills are monogamous, but, so far as is known, only for one season at a time. Most species nest in trees or reed-beds, often with ibises or herons. The male gathers nesting material?mostly sticks and reeds, sometimes taken from an old nest?the female weaves it into a large, shallow bowl or platform which varies in its shape and structural integrity according to species. The female lays a clutch of about 3 smooth, oval, white eggs and both parents incubate; chicks hatch one at a time rather than all together. The newly hatched young are blind and cannot care for themselves immediately; both parents feed them by partial regurgitation. Chicks’ bills are short and straight, and only gain the characteristic spoonbill shape as they mature. Their feeding continues for a few weeks longer after the family leaves the nest. The primary cause of brood failure appears not to be predation but starvation. African Spoonbills (Platalea alba) standing and feeding in captivity.All have large, flat, spatulate bills and feed by wading through shallow water, sweeping the partly opened bill from side to side. The moment any small aquatic creature touches the inside of the bill?an insect, crustacean, or tiny fish?it is snapped shut. Spoonbills generally prefer fresh water to salt but are found in both environments. They need to feed many hours each day.
Physical charateristics
wingspan min.: | 0 | cm | wingspan max.: | 0 | cm |
size min.: | 60 | cm | size max.: | 78 | cm |
incubation min.: | 0 | days | incubation max.: | 0 | days |
fledging min.: | 34 | days | fledging max.: | 38 | days |
broods: | 1 | eggs min.: | 4 | ||
eggs max.: | 6 |
Range
Habitat
flats and shallow water and feed in estuaries and fishponds.
Reproduction
Feeding habits
Video Black-faced Spoonbill
copyright: Vicky Cheng
Conservation
Recent speculation suggests that pollution from pesticides is most congruent with demographic history, in terms of scale and timing of declines and subsequent recovery, as an explantation of past population reduction4. However, habitat destruction is probably the biggest threat currently. The main wintering grounds are threatened by industrial development, particularly a key site in Taiwan and also in China, and reclamation, especially in South Korea, Japan and China. Economic development in China has converted many coastal wetlands into aquaculture ponds and industrial estates. Pollution remains a major threat to birds wintering in Hong Kong. An outbreak of botulism at one of the major wintering sites killed 73 birds representing 7% of the world population from December 2002 to February 2003. Increasing levels of disturbance by fishers and tourists and also hunting are threats in China and Vietnam8. Fishers in China collect waterbird eggs at nesting sites