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Yellow-billed Spoonbill

(Platalea flavipes)
Alternative name: "Yellow-legged Spoonbill"
Size: 75-90 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Yellow-billed Spoonbills populate most of the Australian continent including Tasmania, with the exception of the most arid parts of the interior of the continent, i.e. the eastern half of WA, the western half of SA and the south-eastern corner of the NT. In other parts of the semi-arid interior they are present only when there is sufficient surface water, normally after major rainfall events.

Yellow-billed Spoonbills are found only in freshwater habitats, in shallow water around lakes and in billabongs, also farm dams.

Sightings

Yellow-billed Spoonbills are found along waterways in many parts of Australia (mostly the eastern part of the continent). We see them at times of rainfall, when billabongs and lakes near Narrabri are wet.

Several sightings in the Narrabri area after the significant rainfalls of May/June 2007 and January/February 2008. Seen also 20 km east of Narrabri in July 2008. Spotted again in the winter of 2010.

Photos

Lateral view of a Yellow-billed Spoonbill in breeding plumage (note the spiny feathers)

Here a Yellow-billed Spoonbill seen from behind

When seen at a different angle its breeding plumage (the dark "tendrils" on its rump) is much more conspicuous

Two Yellow-billed Spoonbills sifting through the shallows of a dam; note how, in August of 2006, they already have their breeding plumage

This bird, which was seen foraging in Narrabri Lake, already had its breeding plumage in June 2011

Dorsal view of a Yellow-billed Spoonbill in flight

This one was seen just before touchdown

Here a bird in non-breeding plumage

Here what looks like a family of Yellow-billed Spoonbills, with and a Royal Spoonbill on the right

Direct comparison between a Yellow-billed Spoonbill (front right) and a Royal Spoonbill (back left), both in non-breeding plumage

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive Elementary unit: Pair/family

Food

Spoonbills feed on small animals caught in their bill while sifting through shallow water.

Here a bird seen feeding in a shallow lake