10 Fun Roseate Spoonbill Facts

Birdorable Roseate Spoonbill

The Roseate Spoonbill is one of the newest birds to join the Birdorable family. Here are some fun facts about this unique species.

1. The collective noun for spoonbills is bowl. Have you ever seen a bowl of Roseate Spoonbills?

2. Roseate Spoonbills get their pink color from their food! They feed on crustaceans who in turn have fed on algae.

3. In parts of their range, especially in Florida, Roseate Spoonbills are sometimes confused with another large pink wading bird: the flamingo.

4. There are six species of spoonbill in the world; the Roseate Spoonbill is the only one with pink plumage. Roseate Spoonbill

5. The Roseate Spoonbill is also the only spoonbill species found in the Americas.

6. The beaks of chick spoonbills are straight; the spoon-shape grows as the chick develops.

7. Spoonbills use their specialized bills to feed. They sweep their open bills through the water, and when a prey item like a fish or insect comes between the mandibles, the bill snaps shut.

8. The oldest wild Roseate Spoonbill was discovered in the Florida Keys in 2006. The bird had been banded in 1990, and was an amazing 16 years old. The previous known longevity record for the species was seven years.

9. Roseate Spoonbills are highly social. They feed with each other and with other wading birds. They also nest in colonies and fly in flocks.

10. The Roseate Spoonbill was added to Birdorable on September 6th, 2011. Be sure to check out our great collection of Roseate Spoonbill t-shirts & gifts!

Comments

Abigail on September 8, 2011 at 5:25 PM wrote:
Hay! I helped out with the new Roseate Spoonbill, I was tha won hoo suggested it!
NatureFootstep Birds on September 11, 2011 at 5:18 AM wrote:
nice bird. I want to see it.
Zach on September 11, 2011 at 2:03 PM wrote:
i like black-faced spoonbill
geminideal.com on September 26, 2011 at 9:40 PM wrote:
Very cute. I like it
jessica on December 8, 2012 at 12:18 PM wrote:
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! very pretty bird i love it! i want to see one up close and gets some great pictures this website was very helpful for my project at school!!!!!!!!
Grace on March 13, 2015 at 11:51 AM wrote:
I saw one in Everglades National Park.
greg on April 11, 2015 at 9:46 PM wrote:
i see them on Anclote key off shore from tarpon springs, fl
jake on April 26, 2015 at 5:33 PM wrote:
that helped but needed one more fact
Nature4Realzies on May 8, 2015 at 9:54 PM wrote:
This really helped me on my project, thanks!
sabastian mcnett on October 15, 2015 at 9:54 AM wrote:
go on IG CBASS550
Daniel on December 24, 2015 at 1:08 PM wrote:
I went out on a cruise with the Conservancy of South West Florida on12-23-15 in Rookery Bay and saw one. Very beautiful. A must see.
Joyce on December 31, 2015 at 10:11 AM wrote:
We saw 3 Roseate Spoon Bills at Port Aransas, Texas on Sunday. They were amazing! What kind of sound do they make?
Birdorable (Arthur) on January 4, 2016 at 1:27 PM wrote:
@Joyce: Roseate Spoonbills are usually quiet but make low grunting sounds while they are eating with others. You can hear some of it here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Roseate_Spoonbill/sounds
lakelandjack on February 29, 2016 at 9:39 AM wrote:
I have been watching the spoonbill along the west side of Lake Parker in Lakeland, FL. We saw two yesterday, one small and one larger. They are not afraid and continue eating when I stop my bicycle within a few feet of them to take pictures. Beautiful bird!
Janet on March 28, 2016 at 8:53 PM wrote:
I see them occasionally in a pond in st. Petersburg, fl. They are so pretty. I love seeing them!
bird lover on May 4, 2016 at 5:39 PM wrote:
I've never seen one, but this website was really help full on my florida keys project!!!!!!!! Do you have any more florida keys birds? (P.S. LOVEthe websit!)
Abby on June 1, 2016 at 4:06 PM wrote:
this really helped thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CAPTAIN CHUCK PORTER on July 31, 2016 at 3:43 PM wrote:
I see Rosetta Soonbills almost everyday . My tour boat runs all through south St Augustine and north of St Augustine . Its an all day tour . Starting with Fort Matansas in south St Augustine . We run north to downtown to see the Castillio De San Marcos and the Great Cross . Out to the ocean to see if we can spot sea turtles . Then up North to a Nice lunch at either Aunt Kates or Caps . We finish Buy coming back through Downtown and back to Butler Beach . Call me for more information Captain Chuck Porter 904 654 4354
Xochitl on August 7, 2016 at 7:17 AM wrote:
I live in South Coastal Texas, and we are constantly see these here. Beautiful creatures. I feel very lucky to get to see so many different birds in my own backyard, Literally.
nigga on January 11, 2017 at 7:26 PM wrote:
i like niggas better
Wolf on March 23, 2017 at 11:04 AM wrote:
fake pictures
Harpy Eagle on July 3, 2017 at 3:54 AM wrote:
How about something about the Spoon- billed sandpiper?
Harpy Eagle on July 3, 2017 at 11:49 PM wrote:
Oh, you have it.
Paul on July 13, 2017 at 4:00 PM wrote:
I'm watching one right now in the creek in my backyard. The thing is this is near Harrisburg Pa. I've seen them before at Huntington Beach state park in South Carolina.
Paul on July 13, 2017 at 4:31 PM wrote:
This looks like an immature one as its head is white and feathered. I wonder what happened to its family.
ME BLOUIN on September 3, 2018 at 6:02 AM wrote:
I was astounded to see one fly by my boathouse on Lake Pontchartrain a few days ago. Mistook it for a Flamingo due to the pink color, but see now they are native to Louisiana, and sure the sleek arrowlike profile in flight was a Spoonbill! First I have seen on the lakefront although I grew up sailing here every weekend. Glorious!
Andrew on September 25, 2018 at 9:13 PM wrote:
roseate spoonbill is a this bird in the pond birds can fly
Lou on February 8, 2019 at 12:43 AM wrote:
Golfing yesterday at Cypress Woods in Winter Haven Florida saw my first Roseate Spoonbill. Beautiful bird. Very excited to see .
Gina DeBiasi on April 26, 2019 at 10:30 AM wrote:
Me and my partner we're jet skiing just outside the gulf . There is a small protected island there where all bird colony's live .it is very shallow and we needed to coast the ski to the island..there we saw out first . And quite a few more . It was amazing to see them ..wow.
Gina DeBiasi on April 26, 2019 at 10:31 AM wrote:
The island is just past the bridge that leads to Clearwater Beach from sandkey condo area.
Evan Scheu on June 25, 2019 at 10:19 PM wrote:
Roseate Spoonbills have been my been my favorite bird since I was 2. I saw one in the Everglades and in the Keys. Also, the roseate spoonbill has mysteriously traveled up north, like Minnesota and New Jersey. I adore this bird because of it remarkable pink feathers and AMAZING bill. It's colors is what makes it the best spoonbill ever. It's bill makes it the best bird ever! (PS. I have seen a bowl of spoonbills)
Spoonbills are Great on June 25, 2019 at 10:22 PM wrote:
I LOVE SPOONBILLS THEY ARE #1
Maria Chivers on September 7, 2019 at 9:08 AM wrote:
Lovely site and information, Thank you
Rina on April 12, 2020 at 8:55 AM wrote:
Amazing bird. Where I can find it ?
Rina on April 12, 2020 at 8:56 AM wrote:
Amazing bird. Where I can find it ?
wolfi on November 12, 2020 at 6:14 AM wrote:
this is really helping me in science class
Kit on March 22, 2021 at 2:27 PM wrote:
The Roseate Spoonbill is the McGuffin, in the James Bond novel, "Dr. No," by Ian Fleming.
Crazygamer on May 20, 2021 at 5:27 PM wrote:
hey give me answers
Spurwing Plover on January 25, 2022 at 8:08 AM wrote:
The movie Rio Features a Rosete Sponbill named Kip he talks tough with the Monkeys YOU MESSING WITH MY FRIENDS YOUR MESSING WITH ME to which the other birds AND US
mia on May 12, 2022 at 7:16 PM wrote:
I'm doing a field guide about ROSETE SPOONBILLS what should I add to it
Greg on June 8, 2022 at 10:35 PM wrote:
The Roseate Spoonbills do not mate for life, but by the season. They are not much for commitment! lol

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