The Eurasian Spoonbill, a wader of immaculate plumage and a one-of-a-kind bill.
The Elegance of the Wetlands
The Eurasian Spoonbill is one of the most remarkable and immediately recognizable waders in Europe, Asia, and Africa. With its brilliant white plumage and infinite grace, it owes its fame to its extraordinary bill—long, flat, and ending in a broad tip that earned it its name. This gregarious bird moves through the shallow waters of wetlands, where it employs a unique hunting technique. In flight, it is distinguished from herons by its outstretched neck, an iconic silhouette against the vast marshland skies it inhabits.
Our Ornithologist's Tip
By the Les-Oiseaux.com team, published on August 16, 2025.
My personal tip: To maximize your chances of seeing the Eurasian Spoonbill, visit a coastal nature reserve or a large marshland at low tide, as this is when they are most active. Look for groups of large white birds moving slowly through the water. You will easily spot their unique feeding technique: a rhythmic, side-to-side sweep of the head with the bill submerged, acting like a motion detector. It's a fascinating and unforgettable sight.
Identifying the Eurasian Spoonbill: Key Features
The Eurasian Spoonbill is a large wader, measuring 80 to 93 cm in length with a wingspan of 120 to 135 cm. It has a slender build with long black legs.
Plumage: Entirely white in adults. During the breeding season, they sport a crest of yellowish feathers on the back of the head and an orange or yellowish patch at the base of the neck.
Bill: This is its most distinctive feature. Long, black with a yellow-orange tip, it is flattened and widens into a spatula or spoon shape.
Sexual Dimorphism: Males and females are identical in appearance. Juveniles are distinguished by their pinkish or greyish bill and the black tips on their primary feathers, which are clearly visible in flight.
Legs: Long and black, contrasting sharply with the white plumage.
The bill of the Eurasian Spoonbill is a highly sensitive hunting tool, perfectly adapted to its environment.
Scientific Dimensions and Records (Eurasian Spoonbill)
Characteristic
Male
Female
Record / Average
Length
80 – 95 cm
80 – 95 cm
80 – 95 cm (adults)
Weight
1.2 – 2 kg
1.2 – 2 kg
1.2 – 2 kg (adults)
Wingspan
115 – 135 cm
115 – 135 cm
115 – 135 cm (adults)
Diet
Piscivore/Carnivore
Piscivore/Carnivore
Invertébrés aquatiques, petits poissons
Life expectancy
20 – 28 years
20 – 28 years
Up to 28 years (in the wild)
These figures confirm the Eurasian Spoonbill as a large wading bird, notable for its distinctive spatulate bill and its presence in wetland ecosystems across Eurasia and Africa.
Not to be confused with...
Little Egret
Entirely white plumage but is distinguished by its slender, straight black bill and fully feathered head.
The Eurasian Spoonbill is a very quiet species away from its nesting sites. While foraging or resting, it is generally silent. It is within the breeding colonies that one can hear their vocalizations. These consist of a variety of low grunts, hisses, and, most notably, loud bill-clattering, especially during courtship displays and interactions between individuals.
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Behavior: Radar Fishing
The Eurasian Spoonbill is a very social bird that lives, migrates, and nests in groups. Its most fascinating behavior is its method of foraging. It walks slowly through shallow water, bill submerged and slightly open, sweeping it in an arc before it. The highly sensitive nerve endings in its bill allow it to detect prey by touch alone, which it then snaps up quickly.
This tactile technique is particularly effective in muddy waters or at night when visibility is limited. It feeds on a wide variety of small aquatic animals, including insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish.
Nesting occurs in colonies, often alongside other aquatic bird species such as herons, egrets, or cormorants. The nest is a platform of reeds and sticks built on the ground in dense vegetation, in reed beds, or in trees and bushes. The female lays 3 to 4 white, speckled eggs, which are incubated by both parents for about 24 to 25 days.
Habitat and Distribution
The Eurasian Spoonbill is a species tied to large expanses of shallow water. It thrives in freshwater or saltwater marshes, estuaries, deltas, coastal lagoons, and lakes. The presence of muddy or sandy bottoms rich in invertebrates is essential.
Its range is vast, stretching across Eurasia and North Africa. European populations breed mainly in Southern and Eastern Europe, particularly in Spain, the Netherlands, and along the Danube, and migrate to winter in sub-Saharan Africa and around the Mediterranean. Asian populations winter in India and Southern China.
Distribution Map
Conservation Status
The Eurasian Spoonbill is listed as a species of "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List. Although its global population is considered stable or even increasing in some regions like Western Europe, the species remains highly vulnerable. The main threat it faces is the loss and degradation of its wetland habitat due to drainage for agriculture, urbanization, and pollution.
Disturbance at nesting sites can also lead to breeding failure. Conservation programs, particularly the protection of wetlands (through conventions like Ramsar) and the creation of artificial nesting sites, have allowed some populations to recover successfully.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Eurasian Spoonbill
Why does the Eurasian Spoonbill have a spoon-shaped bill?
Comment l'Aigle royal se reproduit-il ?
L'Aigle royal est monogame et les couples restent souvent unis pour la vie. Il construit de grandes aires (nids) sur des falaises rocheuses, plus rarement dans des arbres ou sur des structures humaines, et peut les réutiliser pendant des années. La femelle pond généralement 1 à 4 œufs (souvent 1 ou 2 aiglons survivent), couvés par les deux parents pendant environ 40 à 45 jours. Les jeunes quittent le nid vers 65-80 jours.
How is the Eurasian Spoonbill's bill adapted for foraging?
Its flat, broad-tipped bill is a specialized adaptation for foraging. By sweeping its partially open bill from side to side in shallow water, the Eurasian Spoonbill can feel for and catch small aquatic prey like crustaceans, insects, and small fish by touch, even in murky water.
Is the Eurasian Spoonbill a migratory bird?
Yes, most populations of Eurasian Spoonbills are migratory. Those that nest in temperate regions of Europe and Asia move south to spend the winter in Africa, the Indian subcontinent, or Southeast Asia. Some southern populations are year-round residents.
What does the Eurasian Spoonbill primarily eat?
Its diet consists of small aquatic animals. It mainly consumes insects, larvae, crustaceans (like shrimp), mollusks, worms, tadpoles, frogs, and small fish. It may accidentally ingest small amounts of plant matter while feeding.
Where can one observe the Eurasian Spoonbill?
The Eurasian Spoonbill inhabits large, shallow wetlands, whether freshwater, brackish, or saline. It is found in marshes, estuaries, coastal lagoons, and river deltas. To observe it, one should focus on coastal nature reserves and large marshy areas.
