Platalea
Sign in to saveSpoonbills 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.
AI overview
Platalea is a genus of large wading birds commonly called spoonbills, named for their distinctively broad bills and found on every continent except Antarctica. These birds matter as a globally distributed group representing significant biodiversity, though scientists continue to debate exactly how many species they comprise and how they should be classified.
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Taxonomy · GBIF
GENUS
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassAves
- OrderPelecaniformes
- FamilyThreskiornithidae
via GBIF · CC0
Article
6 sectionsContents
- Taxonomy
- Description
- Breeding
- Species and distribution
- References
- External links
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.