Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Material on this page was provided by Paul Smith, Jerry Cooper, Kevin Guest (bushbirds.co.uk), Frank Fragano and José Luis Cartes and is used with permission.
ROSEATE SPOONBILL Platalea ajaja
Spoonbills are named for the flattened, spoon-shaped tip of their bill which they move side to side through the water, sifting for foodstuffs. They are often common in areas with shallow standing water, and are often mistaken for flamingos because of their pink colouration. Note however the different feeding techniques, spoonbills do not turn their heads upside-down, and when the birds take flight flamingoes can be easily distinguished by their longer necks and black flight feathers.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 - (FPAVE199PH) Pair together with Snowy Egret, location unknown (Frank Fragano undated).
FIGURE 2 - (FPAVE3301PH) Adult in tree, Laguna Capitán, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Kevin Guest February 2012).
FIGURE 3 - (FPAVE200PH) Flock in flight, location unknown (José Luis Cartes undated).
FIGURE 4 - (FPAVE201PH) Adult in flight, Bahía de Asunción, Departamento Central (Jerry Cooper October 2007).
FIGURE 5 - (FPAVE4153PH) Juveniles, Laguna Capitán, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Paul Smith February 2015).
VIDEO - (FPAVE419VI) Adults, near Loma Plata, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Paul Smith November 2010).
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