HERONS, STORKS, IBISES—Order Herodiones 
Family Plataleide 
ROSEATE SPOONBILL 
183. Ajaia ajaja. 33 in. 
Head entirely bald in adults, and only feathered to 
the eyes in young birds; bill long, thin, flat and very 
much broadened at the end, variously colored with 
green, blue and orange; eyes and legs red. Young birds, 
without the bright carmine shoulders or saffron tail of 
the adults. These peculiar but handsomely tinted birds 
were formerly abundant in Florida and in the adjoin- 
ing states, but so many have been killed for their feath- 
ers, that they are now rare and confined to the most 
inaccessible swamps of Southern Florida. Spoonbills 
travel and nest in communities; their flight is strong 
and Heron-like, but they carry their neck fully extended, 
their ample wings slowly beating the air. 
Nest.—A frail structure of sticks, in mangroves or | 
low trees; 3 or 4 pale, greenish blue eggs splashed with | 
brown (2.50 x 1.70) ; May, June. 
Range.—Florida and the Gulf States, and Southern 
Texas. 
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