Spoonbill

Spoonbill (kodali bok) wading birds of the family Threskiornithidae having characteristic straight bill that ends in a spoon-like expansion. The bill is dragged from side to side in the water and snapped shut on prey. Including the ibises, the family has six species worldwide, Bangladesh has one species, Platalea falcinellus which is mentioned as critically endangered in IUCN published 'Redbook of Threatened Birds of Bangladesh'. They differ from ibises in having a long nearly straight bill, narrow in the middle and broad and flat at the end.

Spoonbill

They collect with this bill small animals from mud and water of estuaries, and lakes. In flight they flap steadily, usually without sailing. They breed in colonies, often with ibises and herons, build a good nest of sticks, sometimes lined with leaves or bark, among reeds or in a low bush or tree. These unusual birds are well liked throughout the world.

Spoonbill is of the size of a domestic duck, standing about 60 cm. It is a gregarious bird, keeps in small parties and flocks of up to 50 or more; may be in association with egrets, ibises, and other marsh birds. It feeds actively in mornings and evenings, partly nocturnal. It feeds on tadpoles, frogs, molluscs, insects and vegetables. The bird is normally very silent; occasional low grunts and bill-clattering are heard during the breeding season. Nesting season is June-November. Eggs are 3-4, which are chalky white, sparsely blotched with reddish brown. Lives in the marshes, jheels, rivers, tidal creeks, etc near the coastal areas. Habitat loss and hunting pressure are the major threats to this bird. The bird is also found in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, China, Taiwan, Japan, Syria and Egypt.  [Md Anwarul Islam]