Range:

Central and South America, southern coastal states in United States.

Habitat:

Tropical forests, bays, lakes, and ponds.

Characteristics:

Beautiful rose-colored plumage mixed with white. Long slender legs. Spoonlike bill that widens in the front. Three long toes on the front of the foot for balance and a shorter toe in the back. Orange tail.

 

Behavior:

The spoonbill lives in colonies in tropical forest climates. Forages by swishing bill back and forth through the water, capturing invertebrates.

Reproduction:

Nests are built on broken reeds or other marsh plants, as well as on willows, alders or other plant matter near or over water. Three to five eggs are laid in April or May. Incubation lasts 21 days. The young are cared for by both parents. Four weeks later they begin to leave the nest, and after another 4 weeks, they are able to fly. The young are born with the characteristic spoon-like bill.