African Spoonbill

The African spoonbill (Platalea alba) is a long-legged wading bird^[2] of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The species is widespread across Africa and Madagascar, including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.^[2]

Biology

It lives in marshy wetlands with some open shallow water and nests in colonies in trees or reedbeds. They usually don't share colonies with storks or herons. The African spoonbill feeds in shallow water, and fishes for various fish,^[2] molluscs,^[2] amphibians, crustaceans,^[2] insects^[2] and larvae.^[2] The animal uses its open bill to catch foods by swinging it from side-to-side in the water, which catches foods in its mouth.^[2] Long legs and thin, pointed toes enable it to walk easily through varying depths of water.^[3]

The African spoonbill is almost unmistakable through most of its range. The breeding bird is all white except for its red legs and face and long grey spatulate bill. It has no crest, unlike the common spoonbill. Immature birds lack the red face and have a yellow bill. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched.

Breeding

African spoonbill in flight

Platalea alba - MHNT

The African spoonbill begins breeding in the winter, which lasts until spring.^[2] The spoonbill's nest, generally located in trees above water, is built from sticks and reeds and lined with leaves.^[3] Three to five eggs are laid by the female birds, usually during the months of April or May.^[2] The eggs are incubated by both parents for up to 29 days, and upon hatching the young birds are cared for by both parents for around 20 to 30 days.^[2] The birds are ready to leave the nest soon afterward, and begin flying after another four weeks.^[2]

The African spoonbill is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

References

Platalea alba

Platalea alba - MHNT

La Spatule d'Afrique (Platalea alba) ou Spatule africaine, est une espèce d'oiseau de la famille des Threskiornithidae.

Répartition

Cet oiseau vit en Afrique subsaharienne et à Madagascar.

Habitat

Elle vit dans les régions marécageuses aux eaux peu profondes et niche dans les arbres ou les roselières. Généralement, elle ne se mélange pas avec les cigognes ou les hérons.

Nidification

Elle pond deux à quatre œufs.

Description

Elle est facilement identifiable. Adulte, elle est entièrement blanche en dehors de ses pattes et de sa face qui sont rouges, et de son long bec en spatule gris. Elle n'a pas de huppe contrairement à la spatule blanche. Les jeunes ont le bec jaune.

À la différence des hérons, les spatules volent avec le cou en extension.

Alimentation

Elle se nourrit de poissons, de grenouilles et autres animaux aquatiques.