Spoonbills are a genus, Platalea, of large, long-legged wading birds. The spoonbills have a global distribution, being found on every continent except Antarctica. The genus name Platalea derives from Ancient Greek and means "broad", referring to the distinctive shape of the bill. Six species are recognised, which although usually placed in a single genus have sometimes been split into three genera.
All spoonbills have large, flat, spatulate bills and feed by wading through shallow water, sweeping the partly opened bill from side to side. The moment any small aquatic creature touches the inside of the bill—an insect, crustacean, or tiny fish—it is snapped shut. Spoonbills generally prefer fresh water to salt but are found in both environments. They need to feed many hours each day.
They have traditionally been thought to form one of two subfamilies, Plataleinae, in the family Threskiornithidae, which also includes the ibises (Threskiornithinae). Molecular studies, including a 2013 study, have suggested instead that they form a clade within the family with several cosmopolitan ibis genera, separate from another clade of New World ibises.[5]
A 2010 study of mitochondrial DNA of the spoonbills by Chesser and colleagues found that the roseate and yellow-billed spoonbills were each other's closest relative, and the two were descended from an early offshoot from the ancestors of the other four spoonbill species. They felt the genetic evidence meant it was equally valid to consider all six to be classified within the genus Platalea or alternatively for two of the species to be placed in monotypic genera named as Platibis and Ajaja. However, as the six species were so similar morphologically, keeping them within the one genus made more sense.[6]
Descriptionedit
Spoonbills are most easily distinguished from ibises in the shape of their bill, which is long and flat and wider at the end. The nostrils are located near the base of the bill so that the bird can breathe while the bill is submerged in water. The eyes are positioned to provide spoonbills with binocular vision, although, when foraging, tactile senses are important too. Like ibises, spoonbills have bare patches of skin around the bill and eyes.[7]
Breedingedit
Spoonbills are monogamous, but, so far as is known, only for one season at a time. Most species nest in trees or reed beds, often with ibises or herons. The male gathers nesting material—mostly sticks and reeds, sometimes taken from an old nest—the female weaves it into a large, shallow bowl or platform which varies in its shape and structural integrity according to species.
The female lays a clutch of about three smooth, oval, white eggs and both parents incubate; chicks hatch one at a time rather than all together. The newly hatched young are blind and cannot care for themselves immediately; both parents feed them by partial regurgitation. Chicks' bills are short and straight, and only gain the characteristic spoonbill shape as they mature. Their feeding continues for a few weeks longer after the family leaves the nest. The primary cause of brood failure appears not to be predation but starvation.
Species and distributionedit
The six species of spoonbill are distributed over much of the world.[8]
A large white species similar to Eurasian spoonbill, from which it can be distinguished by its pink face and usually paler bill. Its food includes insects and other small creatures, and it nests in trees, marshes or rocks.
^Linnaeus, Carl (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 139.
^Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 309. ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.
^Gray, George Robert (1840). A List of the Genera of Birds : with an Indication of the Typical Species of Each Genus. London: R. and J.E. Taylor. p. 67.
^Mayr, Ernst; Cottrell, G. William, eds. (1979). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 266.
^Ramirez, J.L.; Miyaki, C.Y.; Del Lama, S.N. (2013). "Molecular phylogeny of Threskiornithidae (Aves: Pelecaniformes) based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA" (PDF). Genetics and Molecular Research. 12 (3): 2740–2750. doi:10.4238/2013.July.30.11. PMID 23979898.
^Chesser, R.Terry; Yeung, Carol K.L.; Yao, Cheng-Te; Tians, Xiu-Hua; Li Shou-Hsien (2010). "Molecular phylogeny of the spoonbills (Aves: Threskiornithidae) based on mitochondrial DNA". Zootaxa. 2603 (2603): 53–60. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2603.1.2. ISSN 1175-5326.
^Matheu, E.; del Hoyo, J. (2020). del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David A.; de Juana, Eduardo (eds.). "Ibises, Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. doi:10.2173/bow.thresk1.01. S2CID 216218320. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
^Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2021). "Ibis, spoonbills, herons, Hamerkop, Shoebill, pelicans". IOC World Bird List Version 11.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Platalea.
Spoonbill videos on the Internet Bird Collection
November 28, 2023
spoonbill, other, uses, disambiguation, genus, platalea, large, long, legged, wading, birds, spoonbills, have, global, distribution, being, found, every, continent, except, antarctica, genus, name, platalea, derives, from, ancient, greek, means, broad, referri. For other uses see Spoonbill disambiguation Spoonbills are a genus Platalea of large long legged wading birds The spoonbills have a global distribution being found on every continent except Antarctica The genus name Platalea derives from Ancient Greek and means broad referring to the distinctive shape of the bill Six species are recognised which although usually placed in a single genus have sometimes been split into three genera SpoonbillsRoseate spoonbillScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder PelecaniformesFamily ThreskiornithidaeSubfamily PlataleinaeGenus PlataleaLinnaeus 1758Type speciesPlatalea leucorodia Eurasian spoonbill Linnaeus 1758SpeciesSee text All spoonbills have large flat spatulate bills and feed by wading through shallow water sweeping the partly opened bill from side to side The moment any small aquatic creature touches the inside of the bill an insect crustacean or tiny fish it is snapped shut Spoonbills generally prefer fresh water to salt but are found in both environments They need to feed many hours each day Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Breeding 4 Species and distribution 5 References 6 External linksTaxonomy editThe genus Platalea was introduced in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae 1 The genus name is Latin for spoonbill and is derived from the Ancient Greek platea meaning broad referring to the distinctive shape of the bill 2 The type species was designated as the Eurasian spoonbill Platalea leucorodia by George Robert Gray in 1840 3 4 They have traditionally been thought to form one of two subfamilies Plataleinae in the family Threskiornithidae which also includes the ibises Threskiornithinae Molecular studies including a 2013 study have suggested instead that they form a clade within the family with several cosmopolitan ibis genera separate from another clade of New World ibises 5 A 2010 study of mitochondrial DNA of the spoonbills by Chesser and colleagues found that the roseate and yellow billed spoonbills were each other s closest relative and the two were descended from an early offshoot from the ancestors of the other four spoonbill species They felt the genetic evidence meant it was equally valid to consider all six to be classified within the genus Platalea or alternatively for two of the species to be placed in monotypic genera named as Platibis and Ajaja However as the six species were so similar morphologically keeping them within the one genus made more sense 6 Description editSpoonbills are most easily distinguished from ibises in the shape of their bill which is long and flat and wider at the end The nostrils are located near the base of the bill so that the bird can breathe while the bill is submerged in water The eyes are positioned to provide spoonbills with binocular vision although when foraging tactile senses are important too Like ibises spoonbills have bare patches of skin around the bill and eyes 7 Breeding editSpoonbills are monogamous but so far as is known only for one season at a time Most species nest in trees or reed beds often with ibises or herons The male gathers nesting material mostly sticks and reeds sometimes taken from an old nest the female weaves it into a large shallow bowl or platform which varies in its shape and structural integrity according to species The female lays a clutch of about three smooth oval white eggs and both parents incubate chicks hatch one at a time rather than all together The newly hatched young are blind and cannot care for themselves immediately both parents feed them by partial regurgitation Chicks bills are short and straight and only gain the characteristic spoonbill shape as they mature Their feeding continues for a few weeks longer after the family leaves the nest The primary cause of brood failure appears not to be predation but starvation Species and distribution editThe six species of spoonbill are distributed over much of the world 8 Species of PlataleaCommon and binomial names Image Description RangeEurasian spoonbill Platalea leucorodia nbsp Adults and juveniles are largely white with black outer wing tips and dark bills and legs Breeds in reed beds usually without other species Northeast of Africa and much of Eurasia from the British Isles across to JapanBlack faced spoonbill Platalea minor nbsp Closely related to Eurasian spoonbills East Asia Taiwan China Korea and JapanAfrican spoonbill Platalea alba nbsp A large white species similar to Eurasian spoonbill from which it can be distinguished by its pink face and usually paler bill Its food includes insects and other small creatures and it nests in trees marshes or rocks Africa and MadagascarRoyal spoonbill Platalea regia nbsp A large white spoonbill with a black face Throughout Australia and New Zealand particularly the South Island vagrants in Papua New Guinea Indonesia and Pacific IslandsYellow billed spoonbill Platalea flavipes nbsp A white spoonbill with a yellow colored bill Southeast AustraliaRoseate spoonbill Platalea ajaja nbsp Adults are large with pink feathers South America the Caribbean and the Southeastern United StatesReferences edit Linnaeus Carl 1758 Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae secundum classes ordines genera species cum characteribus differentiis synonymis locis in Latin Vol 1 10th ed Holmiae Stockholm Laurentii Salvii p 139 Jobling James A 2010 The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names London Christopher Helm p 309 ISBN 978 1 4081 2501 4 Gray George Robert 1840 A List of the Genera of Birds with an Indication of the Typical Species of Each Genus London R and J E Taylor p 67 Mayr Ernst Cottrell G William eds 1979 Check List of Birds of the World Vol 1 2nd ed Cambridge Massachusetts Museum of Comparative Zoology p 266 Ramirez J L Miyaki C Y Del Lama S N 2013 Molecular phylogeny of Threskiornithidae Aves Pelecaniformes based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA PDF Genetics and Molecular Research 12 3 2740 2750 doi 10 4238 2013 July 30 11 PMID 23979898 Chesser R Terry Yeung Carol K L Yao Cheng Te Tians Xiu Hua Li Shou Hsien 2010 Molecular phylogeny of the spoonbills Aves Threskiornithidae based on mitochondrial DNA Zootaxa 2603 2603 53 60 doi 10 11646 zootaxa 2603 1 2 ISSN 1175 5326 Matheu E del Hoyo J 2020 del Hoyo Josep Elliott Andrew Sargatal Jordi Christie David A de Juana Eduardo eds Ibises Spoonbills Threskiornithidae Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive Barcelona Spain Lynx Edicions doi 10 2173 bow thresk1 01 S2CID 216218320 Retrieved 5 December 2017 Gill Frank Donsker David Rasmussen Pamela eds July 2021 Ibis spoonbills herons Hamerkop Shoebill pelicans IOC World Bird List Version 11 2 International Ornithologists Union Retrieved 12 August 2021 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Platalea Spoonbill videos on the Internet Bird Collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spoonbill amp oldid 1180317353, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
