Costa Rica Bird Watching: Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja)

Costa Rica Bird Watching: Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja)

32" (81cm); 1.4kg. Distinctive spatulate bill; only large pink bird in our area. Adults: head bare, greenish; neck and body white to pale pink ; wings deep pink with rose red lesser coverts; tail buffy orange. Iris brick-red; bill greenish; legs reddish. Breeding: facial skin suffused with orange; bill, crown and gular pouch bluish-green. Immature: body pinkish-white; head covered with dull white down; wings pale pink, primaries dusky-tipped ; legs and feet blackish. Three yearsto full adult plumage.

Habits

Gregarious, usually feeding in groups or flocks; frequents various freshwater or saltwater habitats, wherever shallow, open, still, or slowly-flowingwater occurs; feeds by submerging bill or whole head, sweeping it from side to side while stirring up bottom mud with feet to flush small fishes, crustaceans , insects, etc, and snapping bill shut on contact. Often several forage in compact group or phalanx.

Status

Locally common to abundant, at least seasonally, in Tempisque basin, Rio Frio district, and around Golfo de Nicoya; in smaller numbers elsewhere along Pacific coast; sporadic and rare over most of Caribbean slope and Valle Central. Pronounced seasonal movements reflect changes in water levels. Major (only?) breeding colony on Isla Pjaros, Rio Tempisque.

Range

Extreme S USA and NW Mexico to C Chile And Argentina; also Greater Antilles.

Resources

Roseate Spoonbill

Costa Rica Special Birds

Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge birds list

Next bird Summary

Green ibis

22" (56cm); 650g. heavy bodied , very broad winged , rather long tailed, bill relatively small and slender, decurved. Adults: above glossy , iridescent greenish black ; below sooty black with slight greenish gloss , small shaggy occipital crest; feathers of neck lanceolate; facial skin dark gray, more greenish above eye, pinkish on chin, and dull bluish gray on throat. Bill pale green with horn color along culmen, yellowish tip; legs dull pale green. Immature: much duller overall, head and neck sooty with little gloss. Glossy Ibis slimmer with longer bill and legs , more pointed wings.

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