© André S. - monacoeye • All rights reserved, Amboseli • Oct 2009

Bird name: African Spoonbill
Latin: Platalea alba
Other: Spatule africaine (Fr)
Family: Threskiornithidae • Spoonbills
Range: Africa
Similar: European Spoonbill

The African Spoonbill has a red face and legs, unlike the Eurasian Spoonbill. Bare facial skin differentiates the juvenile from the European Spoonbill.

It is one of six Spoonbill species in the world.

Below, African Spoonbill, Kartong Bird Observatory, Gambia, Mar 2013
More photos...

Copyright monacoeye • Pantanal, Aug 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Roseate Spoonbill
Latin: Platalea ajaja
Other: Colhereiro-americano (Br) • Espátula rosada (Es)
Family: Threskiornithidae • Spoonbills
Range: Texas to Argentina, incl Brazil
Similar: none

The Roseate Spoonbill is unmistakable from its bill shape and pink colour.

The Roseate Spoonbill is seen in much of Brazil. The approach road to Curicaca Lodge in the Pantanal was good place to see them in August.

The top photo was taken as one flew below a tree I was standing in - quite an unusual angle for a flight shot, and you can see the intense pink markings on its wings and tail.

The juvenile below has no markings around eyes and brown fringes to flight feathers.

Below, an immature Roseate Spoonbill, Brazil, Nov 2009.
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Photos copyright: monacoeye • Danube Delta, Romania • May 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Eurasian Spoonbill
Latin: Platalea leucorodia
Other: Spatule blanche
Family: Threskiornithidae • Spoonbills

The Spoonbill is a great bird, immediately recognisable by its rounded yellow-tipped bill. I didn’t see many in the Danube. Fortunately this one seemed happy to pose while I took a few photos on the bank of this canal.More photos...

025 Family: Threskiornithidae • Ibises, Spoonbills - IOC 2.5 - 2010

Threskiornis aethiopicus - African Sacred Ibis - Widespread Africa - New name
Threskiornis bernieri - Malagasy Sacred Ibis - Madagascar, Aldabra - Split from T. aethiopicus
Threskiornis melanocephalus - Black-headed Ibis - India, Southeast Asia
Threskiornis molucca - Australian White Ibis - Widespread Australasia
Threskiornis spinicollis - Straw-necked Ibis - Widespread Australasia

Pseudibis papillosa - Red-naped Ibis - India, Pakistan, Nepal
Pseudibis davisoni - White-shouldered Ibis - S Indochina, Borneo
Pseudibis gigantea - Giant Ibis - S Vietnam

Geronticus eremita - Northern Bald Ibis - NW Africa
Geronticus calvus - Southern Bald Ibis - S Africa

Nipponia nippon - Crested Ibis - NE China

Bostrychia olivacea - Olive Ibis - W, C, E Africa
Bostrychia bocagei - Sao Tome Ibis - São Tomé Africa
Bostrychia rara - Spot-breasted Ibis - W, C Africa
Bostrychia hagedash - Hadada Ibis - Widespread Africa
Bostrychia carunculata - Wattled Ibis - Ethiopia

Theristicus caerulescens - Plumbeous Ibis - C, S South America
Theristicus caudatus - Buff-necked Ibis - Widespread South America
Theristicus melanopis - Black-faced Ibis - W, S South America

Cercibis oxycerca - Sharp-tailed Ibis - N South America

Mesembrinibis cayennensis - Green Ibis - Widespread South America

Phimosus infuscatus - Bare-faced Ibis - Widespread South America

Eudocimus albus - American White Ibis - S USA, Caribbean, N South America
Eudocimus ruber - Scarlet Ibis - N South America

Plegadis falcinellus - Glossy Ibis - Widespread Worldwide
Plegadis chihi - White-faced Ibis - C USA to C Argentina
Plegadis ridgwayi - Puna Ibis - WC South America

Lophotibis cristata - Madagascar Ibis - Madagascar

Platalea leucorodia - Eurasian Spoonbill - Widespread Africa, Eurasia, Asia
Platalea minor - Black-faced Spoonbill - E Eurasia - Taiwan, S China, N Vietnam
Platalea alba - African Spoonbill - Widespread Africa
Platalea regia - Royal Spoonbill - Widespread Australasia
Platalea flavipes - Yellow-billed Spoonbill - Australia
Platalea ajaja - Roseate Spoonbill - S USA to N Argentina