The Bird Book/Spoonbills

IBISES, STORKS, HERONS, etc. Order VII. HERODIONES

The members of this order are wading birds, consequently they all have long legs and necks. They have four toes, not webbed.

SPOONBILLS. Family PLATALEIDAE

183. ROSEATE SPOONBILL. Ajaia ajaja.

Range. Tropical America, north in summer to the Gulf States. They formerly nested in remote swamps along the whole Gulf coast, but are now confined chiefly to the Everglades in Florida.

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THE BIRD BOOK

This bird, with its broad, flat bill, bare head, and rosy plumage with carmine epaulets and tail coverts, seem more like the fanciful creation of some artist than a real bird of flesh and blood. Its plumage and colors are strikingly clear

and beautiful. Full plumaged adult birds have very brilliant carmine shoulders and tail coverts, a saffron colored tail, and a lengthened tuft of bright rosy feathers on the foreneck. This species breed in small colonies -J in marshy places, often in com'* pany with herons and ibises. feet from the ground. The eggs are laid during the latter part of May and June. They are three or four in number and have a ground color of dull white, or pale greenish blue and are quite heavily blotched with several shades of brown. Size 2.50 x 1.70.
 * Their nests are rather frail platW forms of sticks, located in bushes or trees, from four to fifteen

Chalky bluish white Egg of American Flamingo

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