Characterization: Species measuring about 87 cm. It is unique because of its spoon-shaped beak. Pinkish plumage due to the presence of carotenoids. Its color is intense only during the breeding season.

Distribution: It occurs in the neotropical region, from southern United States to Argentina, much of Brazil, including all southern regions of the country.

Habitat: It lives in muddy beaches in the interior or on the coast and in swamps, new vegetation areas and at the edge of dry or humid forests, but avoids going in to the dense forest.

Habits: It flies with its head stretched and in flocks, looking for food in the shallow waters, diving and jerking its beak "spoon" sideways, sifting through the water.

Diet: It catches small water animals such as fish, insects, mollusks, and crustaceans including barnacles (Balanus), especially larvae and adults. They fish collectively, when ten to twenty individual walk side by side sifting through shallow waters.

Breeding: This bird species nests in colonies and builds its nest on trees using twigs and dry grass stems. The colonies are often mixed, including other species of birds, such as cormorants and herons. The female generally lays 2 to 3 eggs, which are incubated for about 22 days. The young begin to fly after six weeks, and reach sexual maturity at 3 years of age.

In the UFRA area: This species is not very frequent or abundant in UFRA farms, but the few sightings were made in wetlands with herbaceous plants.