Royal Spoonbill
Platalea regia
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPelecaniformes (Pelicans, Herons, Ibises, and Allies)
- FamilyThreskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
- GenusPlatalea (Spoonbills)
- SpeciesPlatalea regia (Royal Spoonbill)
About the Royal Spoonbill
The royal spoonbill (Platalea regia), also known as the black-billed spoonbill lives in intertidal flats and shallows of fresh and saltwater wetlands in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. (In New Zealand, it is also known by the Māori name kōtuku ngutupapa.) It has also been recorded as a vagrant in New Caledonia. It is one of 6 spoonbill species world wide. The royal spoonbill lives in wetlands and feeds on crustaceans, fish and small insects by sweeping its bill from side to side. It always flies with its head extended. Widespread throughout its large range, the royal spoonbill is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The renowned ornithologist John Gould first described the royal spoonbill in 1838, naming it Platalea regia and noting its similarity to the Eurasian spoonbill (P. leucorodia). A 2010 study of mitochondrial DNA of the spoonbills by Chesser and colleagues found that the royal and black-faced spoonbills were each other's closest relatives.
The royal spoonbill is a large, white bird with a black, spoon-shaped bill. It is approximately 80 cm (31 in) tall, 74–81 cm... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Royal Spoonbill in Great Otway National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Great Otway National Park
Yellow-billed Spoonbill
Platalea flavipes
Australian White Ibis
Threskiornis molucca
Straw-necked Ibis
Threskiornis spinicollis
White-faced Heron
Egretta novaehollandiae
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Australian Pelican
Pelecanus conspicillatus
White-necked Heron
Ardea pacifica
Ardea modesta
Ardea modesta
Nankeen Night-Heron
Nycticorax caledonicus
intermediate egret
Egretta intermedia
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Australasian Bittern
Botaurus poiciloptilus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 5 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Litchfield National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 10 | Grampians National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 11 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 12 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 13 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 14 | Aoraki Mount Cook National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 15 | Nitmiluk National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Royal Spoonbill in Great Otway National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Royal Spoonbill sighting in Great Otway National Park, based on 169 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Royal Spoonbill in Great Otway National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Royal Spoonbill in Great Otway National Park in our monthly data.