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Eurasian Spoonbill

Class: Birds


Order: Pelecaniformes


Family: Threskiornithidae


Genus: Platalea


Species: Leucorodia


Geographic distribution: Eurasian continent and Indian subcontinent


Habitat: Large wetlands, large bodies of shallow open water.


Size / Wingspan: 95 cm / 115 to 135 cm


Lifespan: 20 to 25 years


Weight: 1,200 to 1,700 g


Sexual Maturity: 3-4 years


Incubation: 24 days


Clutch: 3 to 5 eggs


Diet: Small fish, amphibians and their larvae, small lizards, crustaceans, mollusks, and various insects.


Protection Status: IUCN CR Status – Least Concern

Description

The white spoonbill is characterized by its long, broad beak ending in a distinctive spatulate shape. To feed, it sweeps the mud with its beak, stopping as soon as it detects a presence in the moving water.

THREATS AND PRESERVATION

The main threat to this species comes from thedeterioration of its nesting and feeding habitats,as well as disturbance caused by human activity.