african spoonbill

Description: Sexes alike. Plumage white including wings and tail, feathers of nape and hind neck lengthened into crest. Forehead and upper throat devoid of feathers. The bill is long and terminally spatulate, variable in colour. Usually upper mandible pinkish red and lower mauve. The legs are red. Length: aprroximately 87 cm and wings 37-42 cm The young are like the adults but have rudimentary crest, first few flight feathers are light brown, feathering on top of head streaked with brown. Bill is horn coloured and feet are blackish.

Distribution: Throughout east, central and south Africa.

Habitat: Occurs regularly in tidal estuaries, fresh water and brackish lakes, swamps marshes and sand bars.

Food: Mainly aquatic insects, locusts and grasshoppers.

Reproduction and Development: Nest in large colonies alongside other aquatic birds. Nests are built in a tree of sticks or reedbed. Male collects material for nest which female builds. Usually 2-4 eggs. Eggs are white to pale buff, blotched and spotted brown with grayish undermarks. Incubation period of 25-29 days. Both incubate eggs, female during the day and male at night. Young are fed by parents until approximately 46 days by regurgitation.

Adaptations: Slightly larger than the European spoonbill. The spoonbill sweeps its bill back and forth in the water to feed on aquatic insects. In flight flocks progress in formation. The wing action is rather laboured, neck outstretched like storks. Mostly silent but emits a double aar, aark and a quacking note while flying. Sometimes clatters its mandibles. Shy, sometimes probes in mud along with herons, ibis and flamingos. Migration movements little known but can wander long distances.


Zoo Diet: Ibis mix, eye smelt.

References: Field Guide of Birds Birds of East Africa Birds of Natal and Zululand