The Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) is native to the Americas, particularly found in coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean. Its distribution extends through parts of North, Central, and South America, including the United States (primarily in Florida and the Gulf Coast region), Mexico, Central American countries like Belize and Honduras, and into South American countries such as Colombia, Venezuela, and Argentina.

Roseate Spoonbills are typically found in warm, shallow wetlands including estuaries, lagoons, and mangrove swamps. They thrive in areas with muddy or sandy bottoms where they can wade in the water to forage. The climate in these regions tends to be subtropical to tropical, providing the warm temperatures that support their preferred feeding grounds.

The species occupies a niche as a wading bird and feeds primarily on small aquatic organisms such as crustaceans, fish, and insects. Their distinct spoon-shaped bill is adapted for a unique feeding technique called tactile foraging, where they sweep their partially open bill through the water to capture prey. Roseate Spoonbills often share their habitat with other wading bird species, forming mixed-species foraging groups that can enhance feeding efficiency.