Species BirdsRoseate Spoonbill

Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

UncommonBird
Illustration of Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja)

The Roseate Spoonbill is one of the most spectacular wading birds in North America, its shocking pink plumage rivaling flamingos. It feeds by sweeping its unique spatula-shaped bill through the water from side to side, snapping it shut on any small organism it contacts. Its pink coloration comes from carotenoids in the crustaceans it eats.

Habitat
Coastal mangroves, estuaries, and shallow lagoons
Diet
Small fish, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Roseate Spoonbill

The best time to see a Roseate Spoonbill is December–May, when about 60% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 26,084 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Not certain it is a Roseate Spoonbill? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.

Recent Roseate Spoonbill sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spot a Roseate Spoonbill? Identify it instantly.

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal for an instant ID, its rarity, and a live map of where it is being seen near you.

Get Huck

Get an alert when a Roseate Spoonbill is spotted

Pick a park, state, or city and we’ll email you when one turns up there. One check a day, only when there’s something new.

Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.

Love birds? Get Huck field notes

Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to receive Huck emails. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

More birds

Rough-legged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Buteo lagopus
Royal Tern
Royal Tern
Thalasseus maximus
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Regulus calendula
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Corthylio calendula
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
Ruddy Duck
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
Ruddy Quail-Dove
Ruddy Quail-Dove
Geotrygon montana
Ruddy Turnstone
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpres