European spoonbill

"When winter comes, we'll all go to Africa. That's a long way to fly!"

Discover in real life
European spoonbillPlatalea leucorodia

  • Habitat

    spread across Europe, Asia and Africa

  • Lifetime

    28 years on average

  • Weight

    1 to 2 pounds

  • Number of eggs

    3 to 4 eggs

  • Incubation time

    about 24 to 25 days

  • IUCN Status

    safe

  • EEP?

    no

28

years, that's how old I get on average

4

so many eggs I usually have

25

days I've been brooding about

Stirring spoon

My beak looks like a ... right, a spoon! With that, I "stir" through the water so that I feel small animals that I can grab to eat.

On vacation

The Netherlands is among the northernmost countries where spoonbills live. I live in a group with my congeners, but have my own female. With her, I take care of our chicks until they fledge. When winter comes, we all go to Africa. That's a long way to fly! On the way, we stop in Spain to rest.

Want to know more about IUCN status or the EEP? Click here.