Eurasian spoonbill feeding habits

The Eurasian spoonbill feeds by wading slowly in shallow water and sweeping its partially open, spoon-shaped bill from side to side in a continuous scything motion Foraging TechniqueTouch-based hunting: The inside of the bill is packed with sensitive nerve receptors (papillae) that detect prey through touch rather than sight, allowing the bird to feed effectively in murky or turbid water and even at night. Reflexive snap: The moment a small aquatic creature brushes against the inside of the bill, it snaps shut with rapid reflex. Swallowing: Once prey is caught, the spoonbill lifts its head and bill upward to let the food slide down its throat. Group foraging: They are gregarious and often forage in coordinated lines moving together through the shallows. Diet Primary prey: Consists of small fish (such as gobies and small flatfish), crustaceans (like shrimps and crabs), and aquatic insects or their larvae Other foods: Includes amphibians (frogs and tadpoles), mollusks, worms, leeches, and occasionally small fragments of plants or algae ingested during the sweep. Habitats They frequent shallow wetlands, marshes, lakes, rivers, intertidal mudflats, and coastal lagoons with muddy, clay, or sandy bottoms and still or slow-moving water Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...