Michele Mendi

Graceful, white wading bird with peculiar spoon-shaped beak, used to probe along bottom, feeling for fish, amphibians, and other aquatic invertebrates. Colonial breeder with disjunct breeding range in Europe, with largest populations in the Netherlands, Hungary and Spain. More widespread from north of the Caucasus east to China. European population 10,200-15,200 breeding pairs, with most W. European populations increasing, some E. European populations decreasing. Migratory, but may only travel short distances, some southern populations resident, nomadic or partially migratory.

Season of assessment

B

Population trendIncreasing
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		23800-36300,29000
Red List categoryLC
Franks, S., Fiedler, W., Arizaga, J., Jiguet, F., Nikolov, B., van der Jeugd, Ambrosini, R, Aizpurua, O., Bairlein, F., Clark, J., Fattorini, N, Hammond, M., Higgins, D, Levering, H., Skellorn, W., Spina, F, Thorup, K. Walker, J., Woodward, I. and Baillie, S.R. (1) (2022) Online Atlas of the movements of European bird populations. https://migrationatlas.org EURING/CMS (1) Principal investigator
Map

Overall Connectivity for Eurasian Spoonbill

Very strong connectivity visible, with three main flyways from populations were regular ringing takes place: Birds from SW, W and N Europe move SW and connect to Iberia and (N)W Africa south to Senegal. C and SE European populations also move SW and connect to Tunisia and to lesser extent further south into Africa to Mali and Niger. Some move S or SE to Lybia, Egypt and Sudan. Birds from Stavropol Krai and the Republic of Kalmykia in SW Russia move ESE to Iran, Pakistan and India. Some links between the three flyways exist, with for example part of the west Turkish birds wintering in Pakistan, and few Hungarian birds wintering Mauritania.

Recoveries by Condition for Eurasian Spoonbill

Staggering 98% of re-encounters are of birds identified by other means, mostly colour-ring readings that primarily occur in Hungary, The Netherlands, Spain and Mauritania. Ring recoveries make up just 0.5% and occur in or around a few colonies in The Netherlands, Denmark and Spain. Dead birds make up remainder, among which 0.23% are shot, mainly in southern Europe and Africa, and from before 1960. After 1990, reports of shot spoonbills are extremely rare.

Annual Movements for Eurasian Spoonbill

Variation in time and space is less well visible in the maps than in reality, because at many locations, always some individuals remain year-round. In Nov- Jan Most birds in W. Africa, Iberia, France, SW Netherlands, Tunisia and Italy. Increase in Netherlands already mid Feb, Denmark begin Mar, C and SE Europe mid Mar. Highest densities in Netherlands, Hungary and Serbia in Jun – Aug, then decrease. Few encounters Africa safe Mauritania and Tunisia in Jun-Jul. Scatter of encounters at inland sites throughout Europe end Sep and Oct. Increase in NW and W Africa from end Sep. Most encounters Canary Islands end Oct and Nov.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Eurasian Spoonbill

Birds during breeding in W, SW and N Europe in May-Jun connect to Mauritania and Senegal in Oct-Feb. Increasing number of birds short-stop in Iberia recently in Sep-Feb, a strategy associated with higher survival (Lok et al. 2011). Few also winter France. Immatures can stay in wintering areas during first and second summer, but little mixing with resident subspecies balsaci in Mauretania (Piersma et al. 2012). Birds in C. Europe in May-Jun connect mainly to Tunisia in Oct-Feb, immatures also to other colonies in the region in Apr-Aug. SE European breeders May-Jun connect to Tunisia (from Serbia) in Nov-Jan, or to Egypt, Israel, Iraq and Pakistan (from Turkey) in Nov-Apr. Easternmost breeders in May-Jun connect to Pakistan, India in Oct-Mar. Dispersal in and between all populations of birds ringed May-Jun in post-breeding period Jul-Sep.

Henk van der Jeugd

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries
References Map
Lok, T,, Overdijk, O., Tinbergen, J.M., Piersma, T.2011 . The paradox of spoonbill migration: most birds travel to where survival rates are lowest. Animal Behaviour 82: 837–844
Piersma, T., Van der Velde, M., El-Hacen, H.M., Lok, T., Overdijk, O.2012 . Molecular verification of the subspecies status of the Mauritanian spoonbill Platalea leucorodia balsaci. Ardea 100: 131–136

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