A graceful white waterbird found in wetlands across much of Africa and Madagascar. It is easy to recognize because of its long legs, white feathers, reddish face and legs, and its most famous feature: a long, flat bill that widens at the end like a spoon. This bill is very different from that of birds such as herons and egrets, which have sharp, pointed bills for spearing or grabbing prey. The African spoonbill feeds in a more sweeping way, walking through shallow water while moving its bill from side to side. When a small fish, insect, shrimp, or other water creature touches the bill, it snaps shut quickly.
One thing that makes the African spoonbill stand out from other spoonbills is its bright red bare face and red legs, which contrast strongly with its clean white body. Its bill is usually grayish or pale, giving it a softer look than the bold dark bill of some other spoonbills. During the breeding season, it may grow longer, decorative feathers on its head and neck, making it look even more elegant. It lives around lakes, marshes, rivers, flooded fields, lagoons, and shallow pools, where it can wade slowly and search for food.
The African spoonbill is especially interesting because it can hunt effectively in turbid water. Instead of relying only on eyesight, it uses touch. Its spoon-shaped bill is sensitive and can detect movement in muddy or cloudy water. This helps it find prey that other birds might miss. It often feeds alone, in pairs, or in small groups, sometimes alongside other waterbirds. Watching one feed can be fun because it looks as if the bird is carefully “sweeping” the water with its bill, as if it is searching with a built-in detector.
Distribution
Angola
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Central Af. Rep.
Chad
Congo-Brazzaville
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Djibouti
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Oman
Rwanda
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Tanzania
Uganda
Yemen
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
