Eurasian Spoonbill

The Eurasian spoonbill is a large, entirely white wading bird, impossible to mistake thanks to its flat, spoon-shaped bill. It feeds in a unique way: standing in shallow water, it sweeps its half-open bill from side to side, filtering out shrimps, small fish and insect larvae as it goes. This mechanical, rhythmic movement can go on for hours. In the breeding season, it sports a drooping crest and a yellow patch on the breast. The Vendée lies on the great spoonbill migration route between the Netherlands and Africa — a direct link between northern and southern Europe.