An elegant, long necked wader with a rounded body. From a distance it looks rather black but closer views are rewarded with rich bronze, copper and metallic green hues. A long, slim, curved beak, similar to the Curlew, is used to probe mud at the edges of marshy areas in search of food.
Key ID Features:
Long, curved beak, reminiscent of curlew.
Breeding plumage of dark copper and bronze appears near black in poor light.
Winter plumage is duller brown with head and neck spotted white.
Overview
Scientific name: Plegadis falcinellus
Family: Ibises and spoonbills (Threskiornithidae)
Where to see them:
As rare migrants from their home grounds of Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East, they can be seen, generally alone but sometimes in small flocks, in any marshy areas throughout the UK. The South west and East Anglia have fairly regular annual sightings.
Seen in UK:
Most UK sightings October to April.
What they eat
Insect larvae, crustaceans and molluscs.
For more information click here
Photographer: Tim Tapley
