African Spoonbill

Afrikaans name: Lepelaar

Photo © Steven Herbert

Platalea alba

As its name implies this bird is found widely across Africa, including South Africa.

The African Spoonbill favours marshy quiet stretches of water where it may be seen hunting for its prey.

The spoon-shaped bill is used to hunt prey. It sways it back and forth in the water until it senses something which it then catches. Its food includes frogs, fish, insects and crustaceans.

African Spoonbills make a nest out of sticks either in a tree or reedbed. It nests in colonies sometimes with other species. The female lays up to 5 eggs. Both parents tend to the eggs and young.

Male and females look the same. Immature African Spoonbills lack the red colouring on the face.

Photo © Steven Herbert

Above - Juvenile African Spoonbills lack the red colouration on their bare skin and their bills are not fully developed.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	85	Platalea alba
2nd	85	Platalea alba
3rd	85	Platalea alba
4th	85	Platalea alba
5th	95	Platalea alba
6th	95	Platalea alba
7th	459	Platalea alba

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	85	African Spoonbill
2nd	85	Spoonbill
3rd	85	African Spoonbill
4th	85	African Spoonbill
5th	95	African Spoonbill
6th	95	African Spoonbill
7th	459	African Spoonbill

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	85	Lepelaar
2nd	85	Lepelaar
3rd	85	Lepelaar
4th	85	Lepelaar
5th	95	Lepelaar
6th	95	Lepelaar
7th	459	Lepelaar

References and further reading

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 37

Wading Birds of the World - Revised edition - Author: Eric and Richard Soothill - Published: 1989 - Page: 111

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 30

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 38

The Gardener - 2013/05 - Author: - Published: 2013 - Page: 61

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 32

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 132

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 108

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 58

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 76

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 68

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 75

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 57

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 53

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 182

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 39

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 82

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 28

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 82

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 408

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 60

go! - Issue 162 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 134

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 45

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 34

Freshwater Life - Author: C. Griffiths, J. Day & M. Picker - Published: 2015 - Page: 50

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 10

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 28

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 33

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 35

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 8

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 28

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 52

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 166

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 166

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 46

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds