Colours
Distinguishing features
It is a large, white bird with a black, spoon-shaped bill. It is a wading bird and has long legs for walking through water. The end of the bill of the Royal Spoonbill is broader and works like a pair of tongs. (Wikipedia)
Size
- From 70 cm to 76 cm (Length of specimen)
Wingspan
- Wingspan data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
It occurs in intertidal flats and shallows of fresh and saltwater wetlands in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. It has also been recorded as a vagrant in New Caledonia. (Wikipedia)
Diet
It catches small animals by sweeping its bill through shallow water and swallowing prey once detected. When slow sweeping, the spoonbill walks slowly with the bill perpendicular to the water surface (i.e. vertical) with the bill tip open about 2 to 4 cm, sweeping an arc of around 100 degrees in front of the bird. The bird walks slowly, kicking up debris and small animals from the bottom of the body of water, which it senses and catches with its bill. When an item is sensed, the bird switches to intensive sweeping of a small area.
They also probe submerged plants directly for prey, and seize prey such as spiders above ground. They have also been observed dragging their bills through shallow water alongside them while walking.
They eat a range of creatures including eat crustaceans, amphibians, insects, and fish. (Wikipedia)
