PLATALEA.
Bill long, flat, expanding into a broad disc towards tip. Resemble Storks in habits ; feed on small fish, frogs, crustaceans, insects; nest of sticks in marshes on ground among reeds or on trees; eggs 3-4, dull chalky white spotted pale red.
Platalea leucorodia leucorodia L. SPOONBILL. Fr. Spatule blanche ; Ger. Leffler ; Ital. Spatola.
? White, with yellow tinge on chest and crest feathers ; naked skin of throat and round eyes yellow. Bill black, yellow at tip. Legs and feet black. Iris red.. Wing 6 360-397, 36o-375. Tarsus 120-145. Bill 18o-223 (H.).
Breeds.—Holland, S. Spain, Hungary, Rumania, Jugo-Slavia, Russia (Bessarabia, Pinsk Marshes, and on Lower Volga to Caucasus ; also W. and C. Asia and N.E. Africa. Migrates ; occurs occasionally Britain (Norfolk) and on passage France (where no longer breeds), N. Africa. Winters tropical Africa and India.
P. leucorodia major Temminck and Schlegel. Larger. Wing to 405. Bill 235.
Breeds.—From Egypt through C. Asia to India and China. Migratory in north, resident in south of its range.