Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, Rebecca Zarza, José Luis Cartes and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
ROSEATE SPOONBILL Platalea ajaja
Spoonbills are named for the flattened, spoon-shaped tip of their bill which they move side to side through the water, sifting for foodstuffs. They are often common in areas with shallow standing water, and are often mistaken for flamingos because of their pink colouration. Note however the different feeding techniques, spoonbills do not turn their heads upside-down, and when the birds take flight flamingoes can be easily distinguished by their longer necks and black flight feathers.
FIGURE 1 - Pair together with Snowy Egret, location unknown (Frank Fragano undated).
FIGURE 2 - Flock in flight, location unknown (José Luis Cartes undated).
FIGURE 3 - Adult in flight, Bahía de Asunción, Departamento Central (Jerry Cooper October 2007).
FIGURE 1

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2

FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3

FIGURE 3