Distinguishing Characteristics

Medium-sized, pink wading bird with distinctive bill that is narrow at the base but broadens and flattens distally, appearing spoon-shaped; becoming rough in texture as bird matures. Stands about 80 cm tall; body length 71–86 cm; bill length 15–18 cm; mass 1.2–1.8 kg; wing span 1.2–1.3 m (Howell 1932, Palmer 1962, Lewis 1983, Bjork and Powell 1996). Male larger than female. Adult during breeding season appears bright pink, with unfeathered pale-green head that adjoins black skin around ear openings and nape; gular sac can be bright saffron-orange; eyes red. Neck, upper back, and upper breast white. Remaining body plumage mostly bright pink, but highlighted by carmine wing-coverts and tail-coverts; patch of stiff, recurved carmine feathers on upper breast; yellow patch on side near bend of wing; and rich tawny to orange tail. Long legs mostly red. Sexes alike in coloration. During nonbreeding per-iod, appearance generally similar, but details unknown.

Juvenile mostly white, with completely feathered head; dusky-tipped wing-coverts and primaries. Dusky tips on wing-coverts lost and more pink coloration acquired on body and wings from first Prebasic molt during the first year; from second Prebasic molt, head becomes bare and pinkish plumage colors intensify; subsequent immature plumage is even more adultlike. Adult (Definitive Basic) plumage is probably acquired by about 34 mo (after fourth Prebasic molt). See Appearance, below. Pink coloration and distinctive bill shape make the Roseate Spoonbill unmistakable in all plumages.