Birds · Pelecaniformes · Threskiornithidae

Eurasian Spoonbill

Platalea leucorodia

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Its scientific name combines the Latin for 'broad' with the Greek for 'white heron', after the flattened shape of its bill. It uses that bill as a touch sensor, sweeping it side to side through murky water to find prey without relying on sight.

Weight

1.1 kg – 2 kg

Size

70 cm – 95 cm

Lifespan

15 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

FreshwaterCarnivore Diurnal Colonial Bird Freshwater

29countries 12parks8same family

Fun facts

alimentaciónIt feeds by holding its bill half open in the water and sweeping it from side to side, finding prey by touch without needing to see it.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - pneumatised bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Large shallow wetlands of Europe, Asia and North Africa: rivers, marshes and lakes
Birth weight: Exact weight at hatching not found as a precise figure
Size at birth: Altricial, wholly dependent on both parents
Sexual maturity: 3-4 years
Gestation / incubation: 24-25 days
Litter / clutch size: 3 to 5 eggs per clutch (most commonly 3-4)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of 30.1 years in captivity