Eurasian Spoonbill

Platalea leucorodia (Linnaeus, 1758)

		Flying bird
2015-08-17 Lake near Khosh-Agatch, Altai Republic	© Alexei Ebel

Distribution

In the region breeds regularly in the Southeast Transbaikal (locally), and periodically on lakes of Western Sibaria. Vagrant in forest zone.

Biology

Rare breeding migrant. Inhabits reed-rich steppe lakes, river channels overgrown with trees, bushes, nearby shallow water. In spring appears in April. Migration finishes in mid-May. Migrates in flocks, flying by a slash. Breeds in colonies of up to 75 pairs, sometimes together with Grey Herons, Great Egrets and Cormorants. Nest is built by both partners in the reed-beds from the reed stems; or in bushes and trees (willow) at a height of 2-7 m, from the dry twigs with a certain number of the reed stems and leaves. Clutch of 3-5, more often 3-4 eggs is produced from early May, usually in mid-May – early June. Chicks hatch in end May to early July. When juveniles begin to fly Spoonbills disperse in flocks of 15-100 birds. Autumn migration begins in mid-August, most birds disappear in September. Odd birds linger to mid-October – end of November.

References