Eurasian spoonbill

The Eurasian spoonbill, or common spoonbill, is a wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae, native to Europe, Africa and Asia. The species is partially migratory with the more northerly breeding populations mostly migrating south for the winter.

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Distribution

Region

Europe, North Africa, and Asia

Typical Environment

This species breeds across temperate Europe and Central/West Asia, with scattered colonies in North Africa, and winters south to sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian Subcontinent. It favors shallow wetlands including freshwater and brackish lagoons, estuaries, saltpans, floodplains, and deltas. Colonies are typically near extensive foraging shallows with safe roost sites such as islands or reedbeds. During migration and winter it uses coastal mudflats, mangroves, and inland reservoirs.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1500 m

Climate Zone

Temperate

Characteristics

Size80–93 cm

Wing Span120–135 cm

Male Weight1.5 kg

Female Weight1.3 kg

Life Expectancy15 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The Eurasian spoonbill is easily recognized by its long, spatulate bill, which it sweeps side-to-side to detect prey by touch. It breeds in colonies, often alongside herons and ibises, nesting in reedbeds, on islets, or in low trees. Adults develop a shaggy crest and a yellowish breast patch in breeding season. Conservation measures and wetland protection have helped populations recover in parts of Europe.

Gallery

Common spoonbill in Danube Biosphere Reserve, Ukraine

In breeding plumage, Spain

Migrant breeding in Ranganathittu, south India

Museum specimen - île Kiji, Mauritania

Behaviour

Temperament

social and colonial

Flight Pattern

strong flier with steady wingbeats; flies with neck outstretched

Social Behavior

Nests in dense colonies, often mixed with other large waterbirds. Pairs are seasonally monogamous and share nesting duties. Outside the breeding season it roosts and forages in groups, sometimes forming loose feeding lines.

Migratory Pattern

Partial migrant

Song Description

Generally quiet, producing soft grunts and nasal croaks, especially at the nest. Alarm calls are harsher, and birds may chatter during colony interactions.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Eurasian teal

The Eurasian teal, common teal, or Eurasian green-winged teal is a common and widespread duck that breeds in temperate Eurosiberia and migrates south in winter. The Eurasian teal is often called simply the teal due to being the only one of these small dabbling ducks in much of its range. The bird gives its name to the blue-green colour teal.

Eurasian tree sparrow

The Eurasian tree sparrow is a passerine bird in the sparrow family with a rich chestnut crown and nape and a black patch on each pure white cheek. The sexes are similarly plumaged, and young birds are a duller version of the adult. This sparrow breeds over most of temperate Eurasia and Southeast Asia, where it is known as the tree sparrow, and it has been introduced elsewhere including the United States, where it is known as the Eurasian tree sparrow or German sparrow to differentiate it from the native American tree sparrow. Although several subspecies are recognised, the appearance of this bird varies little across its extensive range.

Eurasian treecreeper

The Eurasian treecreeper or common treecreeper is a small passerine bird also known in the British Isles, where it is the only living member of its genus, simply as treecreeper. It is similar to other treecreepers, and has a curved bill, patterned brown upperparts, whitish underparts, and long stiff tail feathers which help it creep up tree trunks. It can be most easily distinguished from the similar short-toed treecreeper, which shares much of its European range, by its different song.

Eurasian whimbrel

The Eurasian whimbrel, also known as the white-rumped whimbrel in North America, is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across much of subarctic Palearctic region and Europe as far south as Scotland. This species and the Hudsonian whimbrel have recently been split, although some taxonomic authorities still consider them to be conspecific.