African Spoonbill
Platalea alba
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPelecaniformes (Pelicaniformes)
- FamilyThreskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
- GenusPlatalea (Spoonbills)
- SpeciesPlatalea alba (African Spoonbill)
The African spoonbill (Platalea alba) is a long-legged wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The species is widespread across Africa and Madagascar, including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The species belongs to the genus Platalea, which also includes species such as the Black-faced spoonbill, Eurasian spoonbill, and Roseate spoonbill. Wikipedia →
20–30% of wildlife watchers report a African Spoonbill sighting in Mana Pools National Park, based on 86 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Mana Pools National Park
Hadada
Bostrychia hagedash
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
African Sacred Ibis
Threskiornis aethiopicus
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea
Goliath Heron
Ardea goliath
Hamerkop
Scopus umbretta
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Striated Heron
Butorides striata
Squacco Heron
Ardeola ralloides
Black-headed Heron
Ardea melanocephala
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a African Spoonbill in Mana Pools National Park?
About 23% of wildlife watchers report a African Spoonbill sighting in Mana Pools National Park, based on 86 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see African Spoonbill in Mana Pools National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for African Spoonbill in Mana Pools National Park in our monthly data.