Spoonbills’ genus name platalea derives from Latin and means broad, referring to the distinctive shape of the long bill with a tip like a flattened spoon with which it captures small aquatic animals. Six species are recognised in the subfamily Plataleinae of the family Threskiornithidae, which also includes the ibises.
See also: African spoonbill, Eurasian/common spoonbill, Roseate Spoonbill
