Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja Linnaeus, 1758

Threskiornithidae — Ibises, Spoonbills

Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja, breeds from the southern USA through Middle America and South America to northern Argentina. It is a member of the ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae, in the order Pelecaniformes. First described by Linnaeus in 1758, it is a resident breeder across its range. Its most striking feature is its pink plumage, which comes from pigments in its food. The broad bill that gives the group its name is also distinctive, and the species is treated as monotypic, with no recognised subspecies.

Order
Pelecaniformes
Family
Threskiornithidae — Ibises, Spoonbills
Breeding range
North America, Middle America, South America: s USA to n Argentina
Roseate Spoonbill
© Chensiyuan · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tours where you can spot this bird

7 tours in United States 2, Colombia 2, Costa Rica 1, Peru 1, Brazil 1

Costa Rica Escape Part II: Caribbean Foothills and Wetlands
Costa Rica Escape Part II: Caribbean Foothills and Wetlands
Costa Rica / San José Group tour 9 days

A nine-day Costa Rica birding journey through Arenal, northern border wetlands and Tenorio foothill forest, with boat excursions and targets...

From USD 5,960 Next: Feb 21, 2027
Private Custom South Florida Birding Day
Private Custom South Florida Birding Day
United States / Miami Private tour 1 day

A private half- or full-day South Florida birding experience customized around Miami, the Everglades, Florida specialities and the guest’s...

Birding in the Colombian Andes - Araucana Lodge: Choco Endemics Bonanza
Birding in the Colombian Andes - Araucana Lodge: Choco Endemics Bonanza
Colombia Group tour 9 days

Experience one of Colombia’s most spectacular birding adventures on this 8-day journey through the Chocó Bioregion and the Western Andes....

From USD 2,495 Next: Aug 15, 2026
SFF Los Flamencos Birdwatching Guide with Yezid Linares
SFF Los Flamencos Birdwatching Guide with Yezid Linares
Colombia / Riohacha Private tour

Private, customizable birdwatching at SFF Los Flamencos in La Guajira with Colombian guide and wildlife specialist Yezid Linares....

Endemic Birds of Northern Peru - 4 Days
Endemic Birds of Northern Peru - 4 Days
Peru / Chiclayo Group tour 4 days

Four days across northern Peru’s Tumbesian dry forest, protected reserves and coastal mangroves. The route joins Bosque de Pomac, Chaparri...

From USD 650
Rio de Janeiro Atlantic Forest Private Birdwatching with Falcon Birdwatching
Rio de Janeiro Atlantic Forest Private Birdwatching with Falcon Birdwatching
Brazil / Rio de Janeiro Private tour 1 day

Flexible private half-day or full-day birdwatching in Rio de Janeiro and Atlantic Forest habitats with Francisco Falcon, customized by seaso...

Florida
Florida
United States / Florida Group tour 10 days

Join our Florida birding tour to experience a variety of habitats including the Everglades National Park, The Keys, Miami, Dry Tortugas and ...