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5

Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) Alternate name(s): "(Common) Spoonbill" Size: 80-90 cm; wing span 1.15-1.3 m Weight: 1.13-1.95 kg

Oman: Family Group 5 Family Group 5 Table Great White Egret Intermediate Egret Cattle Egret Little Egret Western Reef Heron Purple Heron Grey Heron Striated Heron Squacco Heron Indian Pond Heron Black-crowned Night Heron Little Bittern African Sacred Ibis Glossy Ibis Eurasian Spoonbill White Stork Greater Flamingo Lesser Flamingo Thumbnails page Classification table Index of bird names Oman birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Eurasian Spoonbills are medium-sized aquatic birds with an all-white plumage. Their most distinguishing feature is the spoon-shaped bill. During the breeding season they have a pale-yellow nuchal crest. They also have a pale-yellow chin patch and the area around the eyes is also pale-yellow, in addition to a pale-yellow neck band that extends into a pale-yellow front (breast, belly). The irises are orange-brown. The bill is black, with a pale-yellow edge and tip. The legs and feet are black. In eclipse the nuchal crest and any pale-yellow hues in the plumage disappear, leaving Eurasian Spoonbills entirely white. Juveniles resemble non-breeding adults, but with a horn-coloured bill.

Taxonomy, classification See Eurasian Spoonbill at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Eurasian Spoonbill is available HERE . Eurasian Spoonbills have a wide-ranging distribution, from the South coast of England and the continental North Sea coast, the northern Mediterranean coastal fringe and parts of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea coastlines all the way to Japan in the East. Nominate race "leucorodia" occupies almost the entire range, except the Canary Islands off Mauretania (race "balsaci") and the Red Sea coast and Somalian coastline (race "archeri"). In Arabia Eurasian Spoonbills are found on the Red Sea coastline (race "archeri") and along the North coast, where nominate race "leucorodia" is found, especially in winter. Eurasian Spoonbills are found in both freshwater and saline habitats, such as e.g. freshwater lakes, estuaries, intertidal wetlands and saltmarshes. They are usually found in (near-)coastal areas.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "leucorodia" Eurasian Spoonbills, race "leucorodia", were first spotted by us in Oman at a few water puddles in an otherwise dry riverbed (wadi) at Qurm, near Muscat, Oman, in December 2009.

Photos

Race "leucorodia"

ADULT

Sex unknown

NON-BREEDING

Lateral view of 4 Eurasian Spoonbills (with a few Slender-billed Gulls in the background)
[Qurm, December 2009]

Dorsal view of a Eurasian Spoonbill looking back at the observer
[Qurm, December 2009]

Dorsal view of a Eurasian Spoonbill looking sideways...
[Qurm, December 2009]

...and here looking the other way (click on photo to see a Western Reef Heron for comparison)
[Qurm, December 2009]

Near-dorsal view of a Eurasian Spoonbill in flight
[Qurm, December 2009]

Food, Diet

Eurasian Spoonbills feed on small animals caught in their bill while sifting through shallow water.

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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