AnimaliaHighest rank in taxonomy. Groups all life into domains: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, etc.IUCN LCInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — the world authority on species extinction risk, using standardized criteria. — Least Concern — widespread and abundant; not at immediate risk of extinction.In ProgressCurrent stage of this record in the editorial review workflow. Recent Sighting
Platalea ajaja
Roseate Spoonbill
Linnaeus, 1758
Detailed Texts Multi-lang
A large, long-legged wading bird instantly recognizable by its brilliant pink body plumage and unique, elongated spatulate (spoon-shaped) bill. Adults have a featherless, greenish-yellow to greyish head, a stark white neck and upper back, and intense carmine-pink shoulders and rump. The bill is greenish-grey with darker mottled spots, becoming flattened and wide at the tip. In flight, they fly with necks and legs fully extended, showing a breathtaking contrast of pale and deep pink underwing coverts against the sky.
Added by
Anonymous Curator
Reviewed by
Under Review
Last modified by
Julia Trouin
TaxonomyBiological classification ranks placing this species within the tree of life, from Kingdom down to Genus.
PhylumRank below Kingdom. Groups organisms sharing a fundamental body plan (e.g., Chordata = vertebrates and some invertebrates).Chordata
ClassRank below Phylum. Subdivides by structural traits (e.g., Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Insecta).Aves
OrderRank below Class. Groups related families sharing common ancestry (e.g., Carnivora, Primates).Pelecaniformes
FamilyRank below Order. Groups closely related genera (e.g., Felidae = cats, Canidae = dogs).Threskiornithidae
GenusRank just above Species. The first word in the two-part binomial scientific name.Platalea
Taxonomic AuthorityThe scientist who first formally described and published this species, followed by the year of publication.Linnaeus, 1758
Record Completeness
95%Coming soon
Ecology & StatusHow this species lives: habitat preferences, diet, behavior, population status, and role in its ecosystem.
OriginWhether the species is native (evolved here), endemic (found only here), or introduced by human activity.
Native
Population TrendDirection of change in population size over time: increasing, stable, decreasing, or unknown.
Increasing
Breeding SeasonTime of year when this species typically reproduces or flowers.
Year Round
Trophic RolePosition in the food chain: producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, decomposer, or parasite.
Carnivore
Recent SightingsWhether this species has been observed in the wild in Costa Rica within recent years.
Yes
Habitat SummaryOverview of the specific ecosystems and environments where this species is found in Costa Rica. Multi-lang
Strictly tied to shallow, productive aquatic environments, including coastal mangrove swamps, tidal mudflats, forested brackish marshes, lagoons, and shallow freshwater wetlands. They require shallow water levels (generally under 20-30 cm) to efficiently employ their specialized tactile feeding techniques.BehaviourDaily activity patterns, movement, territory use, foraging style, and seasonal behavioral changes. Multi-lang
Forages using a unique behavior called 'tactile sweeping', walking slowly through shallow water while swinging its partially open bill from side to side in wide arcs. When the inner surface of the bill touches a small fish or crustacean, reflex nerve pathways trigger it to snap shut in milliseconds. They often feed in groups, sometimes alongside other waders like herons and ibises.Social ActivitySocial structure: whether the species is solitary, paired, or colonial; hierarchy and communication. Multi-lang
Highly gregarious bird that exhibits strong social tendencies across all lifecycle phases. They travel in tight flocks, forage collaboratively in clustered groups to pool detection resources, and nest in dense, noisy multi-species colonies (rookeries) alongside herons, egrets, and ibises.Feeding GuildWhat the species eats, how it forages or hunts, and its role as a consumer in the food web. Multi-lang
Carnivore (piscivore, invertivore; microcarnivore specializing in small aquatic fish, decapod crustaceans, and macroinvertebrates).Trophic Chain DetailsSpecific interactions in local food webs: prey species, predators, competitors, and scavengers. Multi-lang
Acts as a secondary and tertiary carnivore within wetlands. Its diet consists of small aquatic organisms, including killifish, minnows, grass shrimp, crabs, water beetles, and nymphs. In turn, eggs and nestlings are heavily preyed upon by raccoons, opossums, crows, and large raptors. Adults can occasionally fall victim to American alligators.Reproductive BehaviourMating strategies, courtship displays, nesting or spawning behavior, and parental care. Multi-lang
Forms socially monogamous pairs. They build substantial, bulky platform nests made of thick sticks and lined with moss and fine leaves, typically situated in the forks of mangroves, willows, or low shrubs over water. The female lays 2 to 4 whitish eggs covered with brown blotches. Both parents share incubation duties equally for 22 to 24 days and perform continuous chick attendance and feeding.Physical Measures
Length (cm)
71.0 - 86.0 cm
Weight (Grams)
1.10 kg - 1.80 kg
Offspring per cycleTypical number of young (live births, eggs, or seeds) produced by one adult in a single reproductive event or breeding season.2 - 4
Sexual DimorphismObservable physical differences between males and females of the same species (e.g., size, coloration, features).No
Lifespan
Sexual MaturityAge at which the individual becomes capable of reproducing for the first time.
3 - 4 Years
Gestation / IncubationDuration from fertilization to birth (mammals) or to hatching (egg-laying species).
22 - 24
Lifespan EstimatedExpected duration of life from birth to natural death under wild conditions.
Males10 - 16 Years
Females10 - 16 Years
Evolutionary AdaptationsInherited traits and behaviors that improve the species' survival and reproduction in its specific environment. Multi-lang
The spatulate bill is equipped with a dense network of sensitive mechanoreceptors (neurotactile cells) at the tip, allowing the bird to detect and snap shut on small aquatic prey instantly upon touch, even in pitch-black or highly turbid, muddy water.
Like flamingos, their pink coloration is derived from dietary carotenoid pigments (specifically canthaxanthin and astaxanthin) absorbed from the crustaceans and aquatic invertebrates they consume.
Main ThreatsDocumented pressures reducing the population: habitat loss, hunting, disease, climate change, and invasive species. Multi-lang
Severely threatened by habitat degradation caused by drainage of wetlands, coastal real estate development, and altered hydrological regimes that destroy shallow foraging zones and reduce prey availability.
Interesting FactsSurprising or notable facts that highlight what makes this species unique or ecologically important. Multi-lang
In the 19th century, Roseate Spoonbills were hunted to near extinction in North America because their gorgeous pink wings were highly prized by the fashion industry for making ladies' fans and hats.
Chicks are not born with spoon-shaped bills; they hatch with short, straight pink bills that gradually flatten, widen, and expand into the iconic spatula shape over their first few weeks of life.