Spoonbill
Platalea leucorodia (Linnaeus, 1758)
NB
SPOON
1440
Family: Pelecaniformes > Threskiornithidae
Spoonbill is one of a number of species expanding their breeding range northwards as a result of climate change, and the species is becoming a more familiar sight to birdwatchers.
Spoonbills breed in very small numbers at just a handful of locations in England, the most successful of which is a colony on the north Norfolk coast. Spoonbills tend to breed in mixed colonies, alongside herons and inland-breeding Cormorants. In summer plumage the yellow tip to the adult’s spoon-shaped bill and the crest plumes make this a very attractive bird.
Atlas data highlight the current southerly distribution in Britain & Ireland, particularly evident in the winter months.
Identification
Spoonbill identification is usually straightforward.
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Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.
CONSERVATION STATUS
This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.
POPULATION CHANGE
Spoonbill bred in southern England until the 17th century and has successfully re-colonised the UK over the course of the last decade, following on from the first successful modern-day breeding attempt in 1999 (Ogilvie et al. 2001). The main stronghold of the species is at Holkham in Norfolk where breeding first occurred in 2010 and the number of breeding pairs had risen to 28 in 2020 (Bloomfield 2021). Since the establishment of the colony at Holkham, breeding has occurred at several other sites across the UK.
DISTRIBUTION
Spoonbill is a rare breeding bird in Britain. At the time of Bird Atlas 2007–11 breeding was confirmed in two 10-km squares, in Dumfries & Galloway and in Norfolk. They are widely distributed in winter across a range of mostly coastal sites in southern Britain.
Occupied 10-km squares in UK
No. occupied in breeding season | 7 |
% occupied in breeding season | 0.2 |
No. occupied in winter | 105 |
% occupied in winter | 3.5 |
European Distribution Map
DISTRIBUTION CHANGE
% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11) | +669.2% |
SEASONALITY
Spoonbill was formerly a scarce summer visitor, but is now an expanding breeder and can also be seen throughout the winter at some southern locations.
Movement
Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
An overview of year-round movements for the whole of Europe can be seen on the EuroBirdPortal viewer.
RINGING RECOVERIES
View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.
Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland
Biology
Lifecycle and body size information about Spoonbill, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.
BIOMETRICS
Sample sizes are too small to report Biometrics for this species.
Feather measurements and photos on featherbase
CODES & CLASSIFICATION
Field Codes | 2-letter: NB | 5-letter code: SPOON | Euring: 1440 |
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Research
Interpretation and scientific publications about Spoonbill from BTO scientists.
CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS
Causes of change
The re-colonisation of the UK follows a range expansion across Europe. The reasons for this are unclear although it is possible that climate change may have been a factor. In the Netherlands, it has been suggested that local population growth may have levelled off at some sites as a result of density dependent effects caused by limited food supply (Oudman et al. 2017), which may potentially be a driver of the ongoing range expansion.
Links to more studies from ConservationEvidence.com
- The provision of supplementary fresh water improves the breeding success of the globally threatened northern bald ibis Geronticus eremita
- Breeding birds of the Buitenkaadse Oostvaardersplassen in 1997, 2002 and 2007.
- Why is reintroduction of northern bald ibis Geronticus eremita so complicated? An overview of recent progress and potential
Read more studies about Spoonbill on Conservation Evidence >
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