Voritices Creating Suction via Sweeping

The Spoonbill has a long bill that is flat at the bottom and rounded-broadened at the distal dorsal surface, like a spoon or spatula. It is an almost flat surface, where the upper part is convex in cross-section. The bill acts as a hydrofoil to catch prey in the water. The difference in speeds creates eddies and vortices that suck their prey toward the bill.