spoonbill: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral. Used in everyday, academic, and technical (ornithological/zoological) contexts.
Quick answer
What does “spoonbill” mean?
A wading bird with long legs and a long, flat bill that is broad and flattened at the tip, resembling a spoon.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A wading bird with long legs and a long, flat bill that is broad and flattened at the tip, resembling a spoon.
Any bird of the family Plataleidae (or, in some taxonomies, Threskiornithidae), characterized by a distinctive spoon-shaped bill used for feeding in shallow water. Can also refer to a catfish (Pogonias cromis) with a broad, flat snout, sometimes called a spoonbill catfish.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both varieties refer to the same birds, though specific species (e.g., Eurasian Spoonbill vs. Roseate Spoonbill) have different geographic distributions.
Connotations
Neutral ornithological term in both. In the US, 'Roseate Spoonbill' is a well-known, colourful species associated with southern wetlands like Florida.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to the prominence of the Roseate Spoonbill in regions like Florida and Texas as a notable wildlife species.
Grammar
How to Use “spoonbill” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] spoonbill [VERB] in the [NOUN].We observed a spoonbill [VERB-ing].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spoonbill” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The bird did not spoonbill its way through the mud.
American English
- It's rare to see a catfish spoonbilling along the river bottom.
adjective
British English
- The spoonbill plumage was stunning.
American English
- We took a spoonbill tour in the Everglades.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in biology, ecology, and zoology papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Used by birdwatchers, in nature documentaries, and when discussing distinctive wildlife.
Technical
Standard term in ornithology for birds of the genus Platalea and related genera.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spoonbill”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spoonbill”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spoonbill”
- Misspelling as 'spoon bill' (two words). It is a closed compound.
- Incorrectly classifying it as a type of duck or heron instead of its own distinct group.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, spoonbills belong to the ibis family (Threskiornithidae), not the stork family (Ciconiidae), though both are large wading birds.
Different species are found worldwide in wetlands. The Roseate Spoonbill is found in the Americas, the Eurasian Spoonbill in Europe and Asia, and others in Africa and Australia.
It is named for the distinctive shape of its bill, which is long, flat, and widens at the tip into a shape reminiscent of a spoon or spatula.
They are carnivorous, feeding primarily on small fish, aquatic insects, crustaceans, and other small aquatic animals, which they catch by swinging their bill from side to side in the water.
A wading bird with long legs and a long, flat bill that is broad and flattened at the tip, resembling a spoon.
Spoonbill is usually neutral. used in everyday, academic, and technical (ornithological/zoological) contexts. in register.
Spoonbill: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspuːn.bɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspuːn.bɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a literal zoological term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bird using its bill as a SPOON to scoop up soup from a pond. Spoon + bill = spoonbill.
Conceptual Metaphor
TOOL FOR A FUNCTION: The bill is conceptualised as a specialised tool (a spoon) for the function of feeding.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary feeding adaptation of a spoonbill?