Roseate spoonbills may look like flamingos, but they are not. Native to the Americas, these large pink birds get their color from a ᴜпіqᴜe source. They can be found in zoos around the world. And, if you’re lucky, you might see one in its native habitat the next time you visit the southernmost part of Florida.
1. Roseate spoonbills are almost extinct
Today, roseate spoonbills are listed as low-eating, meaning they are not treated with excision. But, that hasn’t always been the case. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these birds were almost exterminated for their brilliant plumage. In fact, they used to exist in a much wider range in North America. But, after such extensive һᴜпtіпɡ, they now only live in a few select areas of the United States. Fortunately, this situation has recovered and is no longer on the brink of extinction.
2. Roseate spoonbills are pink
Like flamingos, roseate spoonbills feature feathers in shades of bright pink, pale pink, and even red. They get this color from a surprising source: the crustaceans they eat. From their diets, they obtain carotenoid pigment, which results in the bright coloration of their plumage.
3. Roseate Spoonbills Have Spoon-Shaped Beaks
Some birds, such as sparrows, have small, stout beaks. Others, such as bald eagles and peregrine falcons, have hooked beaks intended for һᴜпtіпɡ. But, one of the most interesting facts about the roseate spoonbill is that they have bills that are wider at the tips than at the base. Hence its name, spatula. These beaks are especially adapted for pulling small critters, such as frogs, small fish, insects, and crustaceans, out of the water.
4. Roseate spoonbills are omnivores
These birds not only eat small bugs that live in the water, they also eat aquatic plants. Roseate spoonbills are true omnivores; They eat plant and animal matter. Other examples of omnivores include bears, wolves, humans, and many primates.
5. Roseate spoonbills flock together
One of the most interesting facts about the roseate spoonbill is that these birds flock together. They are very social and are often seen wading in shallow bodies of water with other members of their species. They also fly together in diagonal line formations, similar to geese. When it is time to raise their young, they divide into pairs.
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6. Co-parent of roseate spoonbills
Baby roseate spoonbills benefit from having two adult birds to care for them. When mating season arrives, roseate spoonbills build their nests in trees overlooking the water or occasionally on islands that the surrounding water keeps safe from ground dwellers. They do not reproduce until they are at least three years old and have 3 to 5 eggs per clutch. Juveniles are lighter in color than adults and depend solely on their parents during the first months of life.
7. A roseate spoonbill lived 18 years
Another Roseate Spoonbill fact is that, due to their distinctive color, they can be found in zoos around the world. In zoos, they generally live about 15 years. In the wіɩd, they are believed to have a lifespan of around 10 years. But, a roseate spoonbill that was tagged as a chick was photographed 18 years later, still raising chicks. That makes the oldest roseate spoonbill 18 years old; He was born in Everglades National Park, Florida.
8. Roseate spoonbills live on three continents
An additional roseate spoonbill fact is that these birds live in North America, South America, and Central America. In North America, they are mainly found in the south, in places like the southern tip of Florida. But they have also been seen as far north as South Carolina and even Virginia. In South America, they are widespread on the eastern side of the Andes Mountains, as well as along the northernmost coast of the continent. They live along most of the coast of Central America, as well as in the Caribbean.
9. Roseate spoonbills are big
Although not as large as vultures, condors, albatrosses or emus, roseate spoonbills are not small birds. Adults are 28 to 34 inches tall and weigh about five pounds. Their wings measure up to five feet wide and they have long, thin legs. Their beaks are perhaps the most notable thing about them, after their pink coloration. Both males and females grow to approximately the same size. With their long legs and long, flattened bills, roseate spoonbills are perfectly adapted to living in warm, shallow waters.
10. Roseate spoonbills are not flamingos.
One of the most interesting facts about the roseate spoonbill is that while they are colored like flamingos, they are actually a completely separate family of birds. The reason both roseate spoonbills and flamingos are pink is their diet; They eat some of the same things. For both species, young birds look like paler versions of the adults. As they grow, they will develop a bright pink and red coloration. Differences in appearance arise from different locations and variations in diet, as well as age and time of year.
