Roseate Spoonbill – Toolbox

Meet Toni Westland from Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Florida as she discusses the Roseate Spoonbill and the latest technology that is used to study wildlife at the Refuge.

The roseate spoonbill is a sociable wading bird from the ibis family. Adults have a bare greenish head and a white neck, back and breast along with a grey bill. They can be seen with a tuft of pink feathers in the center when breeding, but are otherwise a deep pink. Like the American flamingo, their pink color is diet-derived and can range from pale pink to bright magenta, depending on age and location. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched. They alternate groups of stiff, shallow wingbeats with glides.

To learn more about the roseate spoonbill… read more.

Facebook LIVE Episode

Date recorded: 2020-08-20

Speaker: Brett Billings, Host, USFWS; Toni Westland, Refuge Ranger, USFWS

Description: Learn all about these gorgeous pink birds with one of the most unusual bills in the bird world. Join Toni Westland, from J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge (Official) in Florida shares her insights about this remarkable bird and all the other wildlife that abounds on her refuge.

Lesson Plan

Spoonbill Lesson Plan

Activity/Project

Spoonbill Activity
Spoonbill Activity

Gallery