HERONS, STORKS, IBISES Order Herodiones 



Family Plataleidae 

 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 (2.50x l'.70) ; May, June. 



Range. Florida and the Gulf States, and Southern 

 Texas. 



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