Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja)

Order: Ciconiiformes | Family: Threskiornithidae  | IUCN Status: Least Concern

roseate-spoonbill
Age:  Adults | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Mato Grosso, Brazil

roseate-spoonbill
Age: Juvenile & Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Tambopata, Peru

roseate-spoonbill
Age: Juvenile | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Villa Marshes, Lima

roseate-spoonbill
Age: Juvenile | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Southeast Peru

Identification & Behavior: ~75 cm (29.5 in). The Roseate Spoonbill is unmistakable. Their plumage consists of various shades of pink and magenta depending on the age and breeding status. They have long legs and a distinctive long and spoon-shaped bill.  Seen as individuals or small flocks along rivers.

Status: The Roseate Spoonbill is rare in Amazonia and in the Mangrove tidal mudflats of extreme northwest Peru. In Amazonia, individual birds or small flocks are seen along river banks. Spoonbills occur as vagrants in wetlands along the coat. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Espátula Rosada.

Sub-species: Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) Linnaeus, 1758.

Meaning of Name: Platalea: L. bill shaped like spoon. ajaja: Tupi (Native Brazlian) ajaja , Avaya=pink.

Go to the Family Threskiornithidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
roseate spoonbillVoice

References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 11/09/2014.