If you’ve ever been lucky enough to spot a flash of bright pink sweeping across a salt marsh, chances are you’ve seen a roseate spoonbill. These striking birds are one of the most eye-catching species found along Georgia’s coast—and one of the most exciting wildlife sightings for our guests aboard Low Country Drifters tours.

What Is a Roseate Spoonbill?

The roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) is a wading bird known for its vibrant pink feathers, long legs, and, most notably, its flat, spoon-shaped bill. It uses that unusual bill to sweep through shallow water, snapping up small fish, shrimp, and crustaceans. Their diet—especially the carotenoid-rich crustaceans—is what gives them that stunning rosy hue, much like flamingos.

Where to Spot Them in Georgia

While these birds were once found primarily in southern Florida and parts of the Gulf Coast, roseate spoonbills are now showing up more frequently in coastal Georgia. Some of the best places to spot them include:

• A Low Country Drifters boat tour, of course.
• Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
• Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge
• Salt marshes around Ossabaw, St. Catherines, and Daufuskie Island
• Tidal creeks and estuaries near Tybee Island and Hilton Head

From spring through early fall, spoonbills can often be seen wading through shallow marshes and mudflats, either solo or in small, quiet flocks.

Why Are They Expanding into Georgia?

The increased sightings of roseate spoonbills in Georgia are part of a northward range expansion that’s been observed over the last few decades. Several key factors are driving this shift:

• Habitat Loss in Florida: Development and wetland drainage in parts of Florida have pushed spoonbills to search for new feeding and nesting grounds.
• Rising Temperatures: Warmer winters in the Southeast are making Georgia’s coastal marshes more hospitable for tropical and subtropical species.
• Successful Conservation Efforts: After being nearly wiped out by plume hunters in the late 1800s, roseate spoonbills have rebounded thanks to wildlife protections, giving the species room to grow into new areas.

These changes have made Georgia’s rich network of salt marshes and estuaries a perfect foraging ground for these beautiful birds.

Breeding & Behavior

Though they don’t nest in Georgia yet (most breeding still occurs farther south), spoonbills are regularly seen feeding here in warmer months. They slowly sweep their spoon-shaped bills side to side through shallow water, snapping up tiny fish and crustaceans. Despite their vivid appearance, they’re surprisingly quiet and graceful.

See Spoonbills With Low Country Drifters

One of the best ways to catch a glimpse of roseate spoonbills is by boat. Our eco-tours through the Low Country creeks, inlets, and marshes offer prime opportunities to spot spoonbills—along with dolphins, herons, and other wildlife. Their pink plumage makes them stand out beautifully against the green marsh grass and blue skies.

Why We Love Them

The roseate spoonbill perfectly symbolizes the Low Country: bold, beautiful, and just a little off the beaten path. Their growing presence here is a reminder of how nature adapts—and how important it is to protect the fragile ecosystems we’re lucky to explore every day.

Want to spot one for yourself?

Book your eco tour with Low Country Drifters and see what’s wading beyond the horizon.

Fun, Fast Facts About Roseate Spoonbills

• What’s a group of spoonbills called? A group of roseate spoonbills is known as a bowl, flock, or—our personal favorite—a spoonful! (Yes, really. And yes, it’s as perfect as it sounds.)
• Why are they pink? Their vivid pink feathers come from pigments called carotenoids, which they get by eating shrimp and crustaceans. The more pigment-rich their diet, the brighter their feathers.
• Baby spoonbills are born white! Juveniles start out pale and gradually turn pink as they mature and eat the right foods.
• That bill isn’t just for looks: Their spoon-shaped bill helps them feel for food in murky water. As they sweep their bill side to side, sensitive nerve endings detect movement and trigger a snap-shut reflex.
• No, they’re not flamingos! While they might look like flamingos at first glance, spoonbills are actually more closely related to ibises. The shape of their bill is a dead giveaway.
• Rare sight outside the Americas. The roseate spoonbill is the only species of spoonbill found in the Americas. You’ll only find them from the southeastern U.S. down through Central and South America.