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Why the roseate spoonbill is pink

Deborah Sandidge filmed a roseate spoonbill preening in a Florida wetland. The pink comes from the shrimp and crabs it eats; juveniles stay pale for about three years.

By Paper ParrotPosted on X 1 min read

Paper Parrot@paperparrot_

Wildlife photographer Deborah Sandidge filmed a roseate spoonbill fixing her feathers in a Florida wetland.

That pink is not paint. It comes from the shrimp and crabs she eats. Juveniles stay pale for about three years, then the color shows up. The bill is a spoon. She sweeps it side to side and snaps shut on whatever moves. People keep saying she looks dressed. She is just eating well.

[📸: Deborah Sandidge via IG]

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Photo in the post: Deborah Sandidge via Instagram