Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) 7 April 2009, vic. Kaplan, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. Same details as previous. This photo shows the unique spatulate bill shape with black border on the underside. Spoonbills forage by sweeping their bills back and forth in the shallow water and detecting invertebrates via "tactolocation." Tactolocation involves the bill clamping shut when prey is detected by sensors in the bill. However, the bill is also used to grab and seize prey which may be detected visually. The extent of pink coloration on the lesser coverts varies by age, season and sex. This individual shows the maximum amount of ornamental feathering and near maximum extent of the black neck band. Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 Nikon FieldScope 3 / 30X WA hand-held (no adapter)