ie) 
ops 
to 
KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 
ORDER HERODIONES. 
Herons, Strorks, [BISEs, Etc. 
SuBoRDER IBIDES. 
SPOONBILLS AND IBISES. 
Famity PLATALEID. Spoonsiu.s. 
Genus AJAJA REIrcu. 
AJAJA AJAJA (Zz). 
Roseate Spoonbill. 
Back and wings a delicate rose white; under parts showing rose color : bare skin of the head 
greenish and yellow; bill widened at the tip, somewhat spoon-shaped but flat, tinted with green- 
ish and yellowish; legs dull red. Very old birds have the lesser wing coverts and upper tail 
coverts brilliant carmine red. 
The immature bird has general plumage pale pinkish white with no red on the lesser wing 
coverts. 
Length, 31; Wing, 15; Tarsus, 4.10; Bill, 6.30. 
