Roseate spoonbills are at the top of many birders must-see list. Especially when taking a trip to Florida, where I photographed this one. I’ve posted a few shots of these guys before, but this particular photo really gives a good look at that peculiar bill. While feeding, they swing their head back and forth through shallow water, using the spoon-shaped bill to easily sift through the mud in search of food. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/5 at 1/320th of a second
Sean, is the spoonbill pink because of its diet, like a Flamingo, or are its feathers just that particular color? If it is from its shrimp diet, or krill or whatever it is they eat, then does the pink vary like the flamingo? It is a really unusual looking bird. What size is it? As big as a Flamingo or smaller? Or bigger? I will have to look this one up online somewhere. Thanks for the great pictures. I look froward to mine every day and some times stay up just to see it before I go to sleep.
Melissa T.
Thanks Melissa, nice to hear. I’ve been trying to post by 11:30 these days as opposed to my old habit of posting at 2 AM. You are correct about the diet — this is how the roseate spoonbill gets its coloring, same as a flamingo. The color will vary from area to area based on what the spoonbills eat. From my observation, they are about the same size as flamingos, although I don’t have the exact data. They appear similar from afar, but up close are much different looking birds.
Fantatic shot. I tried this past winter as well but could not get close enough. I try hard to get shots as good as yours are but most don’t turn out as good. I use the same equipment but something is not working quite right most of the time. You are my inspiration to try to get better shots.
Thanks Robert, although I think I recall some awfully good brown bear shots from you. Speaking of which I might want to talk to you about a Knight Inlet trip at some point. It’s about time I got back to grizzly country.
Funny you should ask Donna. I usually have all that info and keyword my photos with it accordingly, but for the life of me, I can’t remember where exactly I was when I took this shot. I’ve been trying to figure it out. I have photos from Saint Augustine that were time stamped about an hour after this one so I couldn’t have been too far. Let’s just say somewhere in northeast Florida. It was back in March of 2010, and I was doing lots of traveling and shooting back then — thus the memory issues.
I was wondering where because I have a place in Naples which is in Southwest Florida. We drive through the everglades quite often and have never seen this pink bird with the funny beak. I will keep my eyes peeled next winter. I really enjoy the birds in the everglades. I have been to St Augustine and it is a cool historical city.
No flamingo you see—-Stranger yet more compelling—-Never sat on my lawn. This is a smaller bird but quite wonderful, saw them in Belize. Thanks again Sean.
We use cookies to enhance your experience while using our website. If you are using our Services via a browser you can restrict, block or remove cookies through your web browser settings. We also use content and scripts from third parties that may use tracking technologies. You can selectively provide your consent below to allow such third party embeds. For complete information about the cookies we use, data we collect and how we process them, please check our Privacy Policy
Roseate spoonbills are at the top of many birders must-see list. Especially when taking a trip to Florida, where I photographed this one. I’ve posted a few shots of these guys before, but this particular photo really gives a good look at that peculiar bill. While feeding, they swing their head back and forth through shallow water, using the spoon-shaped bill to easily sift through the mud in search of food.
Sean, is the spoonbill pink because of its diet, like a Flamingo, or are its feathers just that particular color? If it is from its shrimp diet, or krill or whatever it is they eat, then does the pink vary like the flamingo? It is a really unusual looking bird. What size is it? As big as a Flamingo or smaller? Or bigger? I will have to look this one up online somewhere. Thanks for the great pictures. I look froward to mine every day and some times stay up just to see it before I go to sleep.
Melissa T.
Thanks Melissa, nice to hear. I’ve been trying to post by 11:30 these days as opposed to my old habit of posting at 2 AM. You are correct about the diet — this is how the roseate spoonbill gets its coloring, same as a flamingo. The color will vary from area to area based on what the spoonbills eat. From my observation, they are about the same size as flamingos, although I don’t have the exact data. They appear similar from afar, but up close are much different looking birds.
Fantatic shot. I tried this past winter as well but could not get close enough. I try hard to get shots as good as yours are but most don’t turn out as good. I use the same equipment but something is not working quite right most of the time. You are my inspiration to try to get better shots.
Thanks Robert, although I think I recall some awfully good brown bear shots from you. Speaking of which I might want to talk to you about a Knight Inlet trip at some point. It’s about time I got back to grizzly country.
Wonderful shot! I love how I can see the variations in the feathers!
Sean where in Florida was this photo taken?
Funny you should ask Donna. I usually have all that info and keyword my photos with it accordingly, but for the life of me, I can’t remember where exactly I was when I took this shot. I’ve been trying to figure it out. I have photos from Saint Augustine that were time stamped about an hour after this one so I couldn’t have been too far. Let’s just say somewhere in northeast Florida. It was back in March of 2010, and I was doing lots of traveling and shooting back then — thus the memory issues.
I was wondering where because I have a place in Naples which is in Southwest Florida. We drive through the everglades quite often and have never seen this pink bird with the funny beak. I will keep my eyes peeled next winter. I really enjoy the birds in the everglades. I have been to St Augustine and it is a cool historical city.
No flamingo you see—-Stranger yet more compelling—-Never sat on my lawn. This is a smaller bird but quite wonderful, saw them in Belize. Thanks again Sean.
Who’s the pretty boy in the tutu? Great looking bird with a very interesting bill. Great shot Sean! 🙂
very cool!
i think this spoonbill bird is in the flingo family. great pic. today.