Platalea alba — Details

African Spoonbill learn more about names for this taxon

Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology
Behaviour The migratory patterns of this species are poorly known1, 3, although it is likely to make nomadic movements in response to local rainfall rather than truly seasonal movements3. The breeding season varies throughout the range, and is also variable from year to year, being suspended in sites when the rains do not occur3. The species breeds during the dry season from West Africa to eastern Sudan, in the rains (or sometimes in the dry season) in East and central Africa, and in winter or early spring in southern Africa1, 3. It nests colonially with other species1, 4, usually in groups of 5-20 pairs4, and occasionally in groups of up to 250 pairs or more1. It remains gregarious outside of the breeding season, usually in small parties of 3-30 individuals2, 4, roosting communally in trees or reedbeds4 and resting along the shores of inland shallow waters, sometimes in large numbers of up to 10002. Habitat The species inhabits large, shallow inland waters such as lakes and rivers, seasonal and permanent pans, marshes, flood plains, sewage works4, reservoirs and artificial ponds3, less often occurring at coastal lagoons, salt-pans, creeks and estuaries1. Diet The species is carnivorous, its diet consisting of small fish and aquatic invertebrates1 such as crayfish and water beetles3. Breeding site The nest is a flat oval platform of sticks and reeds situated over water on partly submerged trees, in bushes or reeds, on the ground on rocky islets1, 2 or on rocky ledges3. The species nests colonially in favoured nesting sites such as secluded lakes, river oxbows and islands of vegetation4.

Systems
  • Terrestrial
  • Freshwater
  • Marine
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Life History and Behavior

Life Expectancy

Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

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Maximum longevity: 17.9 years (captivity) Observations: One specimen lived for 17.9 years in captivity (Brouwer et al. 1994).
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Molecular Biology and Genetics

Molecular Biology

Statistics of barcoding coverage: Platalea alba

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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Species: 3
Species With Barcodes: 1

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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category
LC
Least Concern

Red List Criteria

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2009

Assessor/s
BirdLife International

Reviewer/s
Bird, J., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s

Justification
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size may be moderately small to large, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

History
  • 2008
    Least Concern
  • 2004
    Least Concern
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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats
In Madagascar the species is seriously threatened by the destruction of breeding colonies at Lake Kinkony, Lake Bemamba, Lake Ihotry and Lake Alaotra1. It is also threatened by the drainage of wetlands in some areas3.
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Wikipedia

African Spoonbill

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Kazinga Channel, Uganda

The African Spoonbill (Platalea alba) is a long-legged wading bird[1] of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The species is widespread across Africa and Madagascar, including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.[1] It lives in marshy wetlands with some open shallow water and nests in colonies in trees or reedbeds. They usually don't share colonies with storks or herons. The African Spoonbill feeds in shallow water, and fishes for various fish[1], molluscs[1], amphibians, crustaceans[1], insects[1] and larvae[1]. The animal uses its open bill to catch foods by swinging it from side-to-side in the water, which catches foods in its mouth.[1] Long legs and thin, pointed toes enable it to walk easily through varying depths of water. [2]

The African Spoonbill is almost unmistakable through most of its range. The breeding bird is all white except for its red legs and face and long grey spatulate bill. It has no crest, unlike the Common Spoonbill. Immature birds lack the red face and have a yellow bill. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched.

Contents

Breeding

The African Spoonbill begins breeding in the winter, which lasts until spring.[1] The spoonbill's nest, generally located in trees above water, is built from sticks and reeds and lined with leaves.[2] Three to five eggs are laid by the female birds, usually during the months of April or May.[1] The eggs are incubated by both parents for up to 29 days, and upon hatching the young birds are cared for by both parents for around 20 to 30 days.[1] The birds are ready to leave the nest soon afterward, and begin flying after another four weeks.[1]

The African Spoonbill is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

Media

African Spoonbill from Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Platalea alba #1
African Spoonbills from Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Platalea alba #2


References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "African Spoonbill." Honoluluzoo.org. Accessed June 2011.
  2. ^ a b "African Spoonbill Fact Sheet, Lincoln Park Zoo"

Further reading

  • Grzimek, H. C. Bernhard, ed. (1972). Grzimeks Animal Life Encyclopedia of Birds. New York, New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.
  • Middleton, Alex L. A. and Dr. Christopher M. Perrins, eds. (1985). The Encyclopedia of Birds. New York, New York: Facts on File, Inc.
Traditional listing of Ibises and spoonbills (family: Threskiornithidae)


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