The Moscow Zoo has announced the arrival of a new and rare species: the spoonbill. These unique birds have made the journey from the Krasnodar Safari Park to the capital. After completing their quarantine period, the new residents have settled into the "Birds and Butterflies" pavilion in the New Territory.
Ten young spoonbills have joined the zoo's collection. Zookeepers are hopeful that as these birds mature, they will form pairs and successfully breed. A previous group of spoonbills resided at the zoo three years ago, but unfortunately, they were unable to produce offspring.
Currently, the spoonbills share their enclosure with tropical ducks and pigeons. The birds are adapting well to their new home and have excellent appetites. They will reach sexual maturity in about 1.5 years, at which point their beaks will darken from their current pale color. During the breeding season, adult spoonbills develop a crest on their head and a dark spot at the base of their neck.
The Eurasian spoonbill is listed in the Red Data Books of Russia and Kazakhstan. These wetland birds are found in freshwater or brackish lakes with reed beds in Africa and Eurasia. In Russia, they can be observed in the lower reaches of the rivers of the North Caucasus, the Volga delta, Tuva, the Amur region, and Primorye. Spoonbills are typically social birds, nesting in trees or on the ground among reeds. Their diet consists of various invertebrates, frogs, and small fish.
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