LIVE WEBCAM WITH ROSEATE SPOONBILLS

More info: The roseate spoonbill is the only spoonbill native to the Western Hemisphere. In Florida, the species is found in Florida Bay, Tampa Bay, and Brevard County.

The roseate spoonbill has pink wings and underparts (with some red on the tops of the wings) with a white neck and back, and pink coloured legs and feet. This pink colouration comes from their diet which consists of organisms which are high in carotenoids which is an organic pigment.

As the name implies, roseate spoonbills have a long bill which is flattened out and spoon-shaped at the end. The specialized bill has sensitive nerve endings which help the birds search for food in shallow water. The diet of the roseate spoonbill consists primarily of crayfish, shrimp, crabs, and small fish.

Roseate Spoonbills nest in mixed colonies with egrets, ibises, and herons, typically on islands or over standing water. Nest construction is carried out by the female whilst the male delivers nesting materials. Pairs of roseate spoonbills generally stay together only for one breeding season. Up to three whitish-coloured eggs are laid and both adults incubate the eggs for up to 24 days. The young remain in the nest for approximately 35-42 days and are fed with regurgitated food, by both adults. By six weeks, the spoonbill chick will have developed wing feathers large enough for flight.

In Florida, much of the nesting habitat of roseate spoonbills occurs in protected areas including the Everglades National Park and national wildlife refuges, but their foraging areas are not always under protection and can be affected by changes in water management that increase salinity and affect food availability.