Denalidaze
Breakfast at Black Point Drive #7627268
An American Avocet, and Roseate Spoonbills scout the shallow water of Black Point Drive on Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge for an early meal. A group (“Bowl”) of spoonbills, which are highly social birds, often feed with each other during the low tide.
The little American Avocet turns a rusty color during breeding season. After mating, it returns to a grayish color. Wings are white with black patches and the legs are bluish gray (note small black/white bird in center). Long stilt legs permit the avocet to wade fresh and salt water, where they forage for aquatic animals/ food.
Spoonbills can be found on the south-east coast of the North America from South Carolina to Central America. Six species of spoonbills exist, but the roseate is the only one living in the Americas.
When they first hatch, the little chicks have straight bills. At around 9-15 days of age, the spoon-shaped bill begins to develops. Other physical traits of the adult include: bright pink/ with magenta trim on shoulders, medium-size-oval-shaped body, long pink legs for wading, white neck with tiny pink fluff, spoon-shaped gray beak, bald green head, fluffy orange rump, and red eyes. Upon becoming sexually active, feathers on the head disappear revealing a bald spot (note bird to far right). Younger birds are paler and heads are covered with feather the first 3 years of age (note bird to the far left). There is very little sexual dimorphism.
Roseate spoonbills forage in shallow fresh/ salt water for aquatic invertebrates, aquatic insects, crustaceans, frogs, and newts. Often confused with the flamingo, roseate spoonbills get their color from the foods (carotenoids) they eat. While feeding, they swing the head from side to side. Sensors in the bill snap shut when food is detected.
In the background, you can see the reflection of a mangrove shrub, which grows in brackish water of the tropics and subtropics. The total mangrove forest area around the world is about 140,000 square miles. Aquatic invertebrates live around roots which provide a perfect hunting ground for both species.
Breakfast at Black Point Drive #7627268
An American Avocet, and Roseate Spoonbills scout the shallow water of Black Point Drive on Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge for an early meal. A group (“Bowl”) of spoonbills, which are highly social birds, often feed with each other during the low tide.
The little American Avocet turns a rusty color during breeding season. After mating, it returns to a grayish color. Wings are white with black patches and the legs are bluish gray (note small black/white bird in center). Long stilt legs permit the avocet to wade fresh and salt water, where they forage for aquatic animals/ food.
Spoonbills can be found on the south-east coast of the North America from South Carolina to Central America. Six species of spoonbills exist, but the roseate is the only one living in the Americas.
When they first hatch, the little chicks have straight bills. At around 9-15 days of age, the spoon-shaped bill begins to develops. Other physical traits of the adult include: bright pink/ with magenta trim on shoulders, medium-size-oval-shaped body, long pink legs for wading, white neck with tiny pink fluff, spoon-shaped gray beak, bald green head, fluffy orange rump, and red eyes. Upon becoming sexually active, feathers on the head disappear revealing a bald spot (note bird to far right). Younger birds are paler and heads are covered with feather the first 3 years of age (note bird to the far left). There is very little sexual dimorphism.
Roseate spoonbills forage in shallow fresh/ salt water for aquatic invertebrates, aquatic insects, crustaceans, frogs, and newts. Often confused with the flamingo, roseate spoonbills get their color from the foods (carotenoids) they eat. While feeding, they swing the head from side to side. Sensors in the bill snap shut when food is detected.
In the background, you can see the reflection of a mangrove shrub, which grows in brackish water of the tropics and subtropics. The total mangrove forest area around the world is about 140,000 square miles. Aquatic invertebrates live around roots which provide a perfect hunting ground for both species.