Species of the Month

February's species of the month is a pink bird, reminiscent of Valentine's Day. The roseate spoonbill is a spectacle to behold with pink plumage that only becomes more vibrant as the bird ages. It's not necessarily known for being a love bird, but at least the color matches the month.

Roseate spoonbill (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

Scientific name: Ajaia ajaja

Kingdom: Animalia (animals)

Class:   Aves (birds)

Order: Ciconiiformes (storks and relatives)

Range: Gulf Coast south across the Caribbean, Central and South America

Habitat: freshwater and saltwater marshes

Lifespan: 16 years on average

Diet: small fish and crustaceans, plant matter, insects

Predators: alligators, coyotes, hawks (prey on chicks), raccoons (prey on chicks and eggs)

Conservation Status: No special conservation status

Other Information: The roseate spoonbill feeds by swishing its spoon shaped bill in the water. Like flamingos, the pink pigmentation comes from the crustaceans in the spoonbill’s diet. They were hunted for their feathers to near extinction. Protection in the 1940s led to their remarkable comeback. However, they remain vulnerable due to habitat loss.

This month's information comes once again from University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web, as well as New Hampshire PBS.

(Texas Parks and Wildlife)

(US Fish and Wildlife Service)