Our Favorite Pink Bird: The Roseate Spoonbill
by Kristen Becker
When someone says to name a pink bird what bird do you immediately think of? Flamingo? Me too. However, another wading bird deserves all the fame and glory. I want to introduce you to the Roseate Spoonbill. The Roseate Spoonbill is native to Florida and is often found wading through lakes, estuaries, and swamps. They have a long spoon-shaped bill, pink wings and stomach, a white neck and back, and pinkish legs and feet. In flight, the species appears to be almost entirely pink, however, they have no feathers on their head. Juvenile spoonbills look similar to adults but are a lighter shade of pink and have feathers on their heads. The organisms that they consume, which are rich in carotenoids (organic pigments) are what give them their vibrant pink coloring.
Roseate Spoonbills have a unique adaptation that allows them to forage effectively in shallow water. They hunt by sweeping their partly opened spoon-shaped bill in arc movements. The spoonbill has a specialized bill with sensitive nerve endings which help the birds search for food in cloudy water. The sweeping motions resemble little whirlpools. One sweep of the bill lifts small animals from the muddy bottom into the water and the following sweep results in their capture. Their prey consists of minnows, small crustaceans, invertebrates, insects, and bits of plants. They typically feed in water that is just knee-high and can breathe through nostril openings high on the base of the bill.
Roseate Spoonbills have faced several challenges throughout its existence. In the 1800s, they were hunted to the brink of extinction in North America and Cuba. Their beautiful feathers were used for ladies' hats, fans, and screens. Roseate Spoonbills and other native species were given federal legal protection by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which allowed for the population to rebound. They are essential when gauging ecosystem health, as they are an indicator species. An indicator species is an organism that serves as a measure of the environmental conditions that exist in a given area. They will change their nesting and foraging spots in response to changes in their environment, such as water quality, habitat degradation, food availability, and loud noises. To ensure that their population number continues to rise, make sure to observe these glamorous birds from a distance.
