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Royal SpoonbillAlternate name(s): "Black-billed Spoonbill" Size: 75-80 cm Weight: 1.4-2.1 kg |
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Similar |
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Photos |
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
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BREEDING |
Frontal view of a Royal Spoonbill in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Clarendon, Gatton, QLD, January 2018]
Near-frontal view of a Royal Spoonbill in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Clarendon, Gatton, QLD, January 2018]
Near-lateral view of a Royal Spoonbill in breeding
plumage;
note the characteristic nuchal plume, yellow patches
above the eyes, and the red forehead patch
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Clarendon, Gatton, QLD, January 2018]
Near-lateral view of a Royal Spoonbill in breeding
plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]
Lateral view of a Royal Spoonbill in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Carrara, Gold Coast, QLD, November 2014]
Near-lateral view of a Royal Spoonbill in breeding
plumage;
note the characteristic nuchal plume, yellow patches
above the eyes, and the red forehead patch
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Clarendon, Gatton, QLD, January 2018]
Lateral view of a Royal Spoonbill in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Carrara, Gold Coast, QLD, November 2014]
Lateral view of a Royal Spoonbill in breeding
plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2006]
Two Royal Spoonbills in breeding plumage, offering a lateral
and a dorsal view
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2011]
Here a group of Royal Spoonbills resting on a mudbank
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2011]
Royal Spoonbill in direct comparison with a
Yellow-billed Spoonbill
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2020]
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NON-BREEDING |
Frontal view of a Royal Spoonbill in non-breeding plumage; note the absence of a red
patch on the forehead
(photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Beachmere, QLD, February 2012]
Close-up near-lateral view of a Royal Spoonbill in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Chatsworth Park, Gympie, QLD, August 2018]
Close-up lateral view of a Royal Spoonbill in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Chatsworth Park, Gympie, QLD, August 2018]
Lateral view of a Royal Spoonbill in non-breeding
plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2012]
Lateral view of a Royal Spoonbill in non-breeding
plumage
[Narrabri, NSW, August 2012]
Near-dorsal view of a Royal Spoonbill in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Anstead, QLD, June 2017]
Near-lateral view of a Royal Spoonbill, left, and a
Yellow-billed Spoonbill,
both in non-breeding plumage
[Yarrie Lake, NSW, July 2017]
Royal Spoonbill, left, resting together with a
Yellow-billed Spoonbill
[Pilliga, NSW, July 2019]
Three Yellow-billed
Spoonbills roosting together with one Royal Spoonbill
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, May 2013]
Comparison between a Great
Egret and a Royal Spoonbill, both in non-breeding
plumage
[Pilliga, NSW, May 2018]
Lateral view of a Royal Spoonbill in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2012]
Landing gear out, full flaps... (photo courtesy R. Druce)
... and touchdown! (photo courtesy R. Druce)
Three Royal Spoonbills seen in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]
For those who like diversity: Adult
Pacific Black Duck
(front left), Royal Spoonbill (right) and
Masked Lapwing
(rear left)
[20 km South of Narrabri, 2006]
Direct comparison of a Royal Spoonbill with two Australian White Ibises
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Dorsal view of a juvenile Royal Spoonbill
[Yarrie Lake, NSW, January 2018]
These two still dependent Royal Spoonbills (left and right) were
begging for food
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2011]
Lateral view of a juvenile Royal Spoonbill in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2011]
A Royal Spoonbill can open its bill THAT far...
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2011]
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Jul - Nov | Eggs: 2 - 3 | Incubation period: 26 - 31 days | Fledging age: ca. 49 days |
The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. In the tropical north Royal Spoonbills breed Feb - May. Given the right conditions, Royal Spoonbills can breed any time of the year. They breed in colonies, together with other aquatic birds.
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Basket | Material: Sticks, lined with leaves | Height above ground: 0 - 20 m |
Royal Spoonbills can nest in trees or just above water level, e.g. on lignum.
Near-lateral view of a Royal Spoonbill on its nest
[Near Pilliga, NSW, December 2022]
Lateral view of a Royal Spoonbill on its nest
[Near Pilliga, NSW, December 2022]
Royal Spoonbill chick that has just left its nest
[Near Pilliga, NSW, December 2022]
Royal Spoonbill chick that has just left its nest begging for food
[Near Pilliga, NSW, December 2022]
Royal Spoonbill resting on its nest
[Near Pilliga, NSW, May 2022]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
Size: 69 x 42 mm | Colour: White, with tiny red-brown speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive | Elementary unit: Pair/family |
Like many other aquatic bird species, Royal Spoonbills like
resting in the safety of numbers, often in mixed groups
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, February 2016]
While in the photo above Royal Spoonbills rest standing on one
leg, like many other birds, here they are seen "on their haunches"
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, February 2016]
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Food, Diet |
Royal Spoonbills feed on small animals, such as crustacians, snails and insects, but also fish, caught in their bill while sifting through shallow water.
Royal Spoonbills in non-breeding
plumage
foraging in muddy water
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Chatsworth Park, Gympie, QLD, August 2018]
Royal Spoonbills feeding in shallow water
[Fogg Dam CR,
NT, August 2014]
Royal Spoonbill sifting through water
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
ryspbill_aa_20181211.m4a | (SE NSW) | ? | © AA |
More Royal Spoonbill sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.