Roseate Spoonbill at South Lakes, 16/02/14

Platalea ajaja

In the walk through aviary.

That's a very dirty European spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

coffeepheasant said:

That's a very dirty European spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

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Think it's actually a normal coloured Roseate Spoonbill.

Definitely not a Roseate.

.....spoonbill....

Looks a bit battered whatever it is.

jbnbsn99 said:

Definitely not a Roseate.

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Why not? I've done google image searches for both species and it definitely looks more like the roseate spoonbill. South lakes don't list Eurasian spoonbills as a species they keep. I am however happy to be proved wrong as I'm no expert on birds.

Mr T said:

Why not? I've done google image searches for both species and it definitely looks more like the roseate spoonbill.

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Quite apart from anything else, Roseate have smooth bills and bald yellow faces. This animal has a corrugated bill, like the European spoonbill. As such it is either a grubby European, or a European x Roseate hybrid. If you note, the soil of the enclosure is visible in the photograph, and is pinkish-red.

Mr T said:

South lakes don't list Eurasian spoonbills as a species they keep.

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And they list West African Giraffes as a species they *do* keep so your point is moot. They actually keep both Eurasian and Roseate, if memory serves.

To compare and contrast, here is a European, followed by two of a Roseate.

Thanks for the pictures, like I said I'm no expert on the matter, it Just annoys me when people make comments like 'definitely not a Roseate'. I wish members would give reasons for their comments as Tealoving Dave has done.