Eurasian Spoonbill

Distinctive, large white wading bird with a spatula for a bill. Adult has short crest, yellowish breast patch. First year has paler bill, with fine black wingtips visible in flight. Sleeping birds have horizontal posture and bulging neck, vs. more vertical stance of egrets. Found in wetlands with shallow water (including tidal flats), where feeds by sweeping its bill side-to-side for crustaceans and small fish. May be confused with egrets when sleeping, but note stockier, more thickset overall appearance.

In Sri Lanka, the Eurasian Spoonbill can be found primarily in extensive shallow wetlands, including marshes, large water bodies, flooded areas, and coastal lagoons, particularly in areas like the Bundala National Park and Udawalawe National Park; they are especially drawn to locations with islands for nesting and dense emergent vegetation like reedbeds, often with scattered trees or shrubs.

In Sri Lanka, the Eurasian Spoonbill primarily feeds on a diet of small aquatic invertebrates like crustaceans, mollusks, insects (including larvae of water beetles and dragonflies), worms, leeches, small fish (up to 10-15cm long), and occasionally tadpoles; they may also ingest some algae or small plant fragments accidentally while foraging in shallow water using their distinctive spoon-shaped bill to filter food.