How does the spoonbill eat?

Spoonbills have specially adapted beaks which resemble spoons in their broad, flattened profile. They use this unique "spoon" bill by sweeping forward through shallow water while the bill is open. Once contact is made with something suitable, water is ejected and prey items retained. Their diet includes water snails, clams, crustaceans, tadpoles, small eels, small fry and insects.