Definition of spoonbill
1 : any of several wading birds (family Threskiornithidae) related to the ibises that have an expanded bill that is flattened and rounded at the tip
2 : any of several broad-billed ducks (such as the shoveler)
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of spoonbill from the Web
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Beneath a canopy of mangroves and palm trees, spot gentle West Indian manatees hovering below the surface, roseate spoonbills feeding near the water’s edge and the occasional bald eagle circling above in search of marsh rabbits.
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The area is known for its 50 miles of sandy beaches and abundant wildlife, like egrets, roseate spoonbills, and dolphins in the gulf, Donlan said.
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A tourist leans out of his car window to photograph a flock of white spoonbills at a watering hole.
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Meanwhile, traveling spoonbills would find their marshy grassland undisturbed — far from the center of town and sheltered from people and industry by a wide buffer of farmland.
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The manifest identifies the birds as maribou storks, white pelicans, African spoonbills and sacred and Hadada ibises.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'spoonbill.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of spoonbill
circa 1678
SPOONBILL Defined for Kids
spoonbill
playDefinition of spoonbill for Students
: a wading bird having a bill which widens and flattens at the tip
Learn More about spoonbill
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See words that rhyme with spoonbill Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spoonbill
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