Both Roseate Spoonbills were in the same stand of trees, maybe same tree. The comparison of young adult to full ‘all grown up’ is clear here.

Below is the breeding age adult. In his neon glory. The lack of head feathers, and strange green tint is the major sign. With no feathers the ear hole is (ugh) visible.

Red shoulders, orange, yellow, and the obvious pink finish up the fashion statement. There’s a lot going on here. Colors fade after breeding, not completely though.

Male and female look alike, male a bit larger with a longer bill. Those are the same rules for most all the wading birds.

Next is the young adult. I see more of this age.

He has a full head of feathers, and a hidden ear hole! Big plus for me.

As the young ones get older they take on more of the pink coloring. At first it’s faint, almost white, then slowly to the full pink.

Both young and old have the same habit of just acting goofy 😂😂.