It is a very striking bird indeed standing up to 92cm tall.
At this time of the year (October) the birds are in breeding plumage, some already having young. A ruff of feathers develops on the lower neck, numbering around a hundred feathers, some attaining a length of 7.5 cm. It is by any measure a handsome adornment.
Yellow-billed Spoonbill tends to favour freshwater habitats and is seldom found in tidal zones although it does feed in saltpans and saline swamps from time to time. Feeding is accomplished by placing an open bill in shallow water and sweeping from side to side. When contact is made with a food item the "spoon" portion of the bill clamps down on it, and with a quick toss of the head it is swallowed.
The diet of this species comprises mainly aquatic insects, but crustaceans and small fish are also taken. Freshwater snails are especially prized. Yellow-billed Spoonbills consume far less fish than Royal Spoonbills, allowing them to jointly exploit the same area.
I always think of spoonbills as sort of "poster birds" for a wetland and to come across them anywhere is a singular delight.
Both Miriam and I certainly enjoyed the time spent with this individual.
Hello, I enjoy learning about all the birds from around the world. I have seen our pretty Roseate Spoonbill here, but this Yellow-billed Spoonbill is a great bird too. Wonderful photos and a great sighting. Enjoy your day and new week. Happy Birding!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have these birds where I live. This bird has an interesting bill that probably allows the bird easily to sift through the mud. Beautiful bird! I enjoyed your photographs very much, David.
ReplyDeleteHello David!
ReplyDeleteGreat series of pictures and stunning captures of this beautiful bird!
It has a strange bill and it’s very tall ! Thank you for sharing!
Have a great week!
Dimi...
Stunning images David,love to see one.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, the Yellow-billed Spoonbill is the best, lovely to see.
ReplyDeleteVilka tjusiga bilder som din fru bjuder på. Jag uppskattar dina detaljerade beskrivningar av fåglarna, jag hade nog inte annars sett ansamlingen av de vackra fjädrarna på undersidan av nacken. Och som alltid blir jag imponerad av vad evolutionen åstadkommit, näbben med den avslutande, spadliknande formen är som gjord för att svepa omkring i grunda vatten för att hitta föda.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, Gunilla, evolution has produced some wonderfully diverse creatures. It is interesting actually that we all use the word “creature” yet is has its origins in “creation”. - that giant fairy tale we should have totally discarded by now.
DeleteHi David ... gosh I bet you enjoyed your time with this bird - 3 foot tall and those feathers of 3 inches ... must be beautiful to see ... and so soothing to watch as they sweep the waters. Gorgeous photos by Miriam - thank you and cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHari om
ReplyDeleteThey are certainly picturesque! YAM xx
It's a strange bird, David! The beak looks really like a spoon.
ReplyDeleteHola David, como siempre maravilloso post. Curiosa esta ave, aquí las veo a veces en una ría cerca. pero son diferentes, más pequeñas y también con el pico más pequeño. Las fotos son muy bonitas. Enhorabuena para ti y también para Miriam. Besos.
ReplyDeletePreciosa ave con una envergadura considerable y un pico con terminación en forma de cuchara que a buen seguro no escapa ninguna presa. Precioso reportaje como todos los que sueles realizar y preciosas fotos de Miriam. Es un ave sumamente interesante.
ReplyDeleteEse viaje resultó ser maravilloso y muy fructífero.
Un fuerte abrazo amigo David.
Yet another reinforcement that our wetlands are a precious resource.
ReplyDeleteA very unique and gorgeous looking bird. Very nice to see!
ReplyDeleteHi Both,
ReplyDeleteA very large and beautiful Spoonbill, most certainly a striking bird.
Wonderful set of images, well done Miriam.
All the best, John
Fascinating. I'm off to south Florida at the end of February and I hope see a spoonbill (different species) ass I have never seen one before. Happy new week.
ReplyDeleteYou should have no trouble finding Roseate Spoonbill in south Florida. I don’t know exactly where you will be but Ding Darling NWR on Sanibel Island is a reliable spot.
DeleteThat one is a beauty. I'm so glad you were both able to "spend time" with the Yellow Billed Spoonbill. Which, I have to say, is a great name!
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful pictures and some great information. I have never even seen a roseate, although there has been one hanging around in southern New Jersey, which is a real oddity!
ReplyDeleteVery nice looking bird. Lovely to read about it as I don't think I've encountered one.
ReplyDeleteLove this post, and wondering where you saw the spoonbill?
ReplyDeleteIt was at Swan Lake on Philip Island.
DeleteHi David.
ReplyDeleteWonderful this Yellow-nosed Spoonbill.
Never heard of it..
Super that you have seen this and let us enjoy it.
Groettie from Patricia.
What a delightful bird, David! I love that face - reminds me of a Gannet. Congratulations to Miriam for the super photos.
ReplyDeleteMy love to you and Miriam - - - Richard
I do love spoonbills, so different from other birds. Great photos. Hope you have a good week Diane
ReplyDeleteLove
ReplyDeleteYou have such marvellous birding adventures!!! I just videotaped an evening grosbeak. It will be the highlight of my day!!!! (I'm not a great traveler!)
ReplyDeleteEvening Grosbeaks are wonderful birds and they may be more frequent this year due to a deficit of seeds in the boreal forests. Enjoy your video. I am sure I would. Perhaps you can post it to your blog.
DeleteHi David,
ReplyDeleteSpoonbills are imo iconic birds, I love them very much. And they do belong to wetlands! You've captured nice pictures, especially because they are in their breeding plumage with the nice long feathers on the neck.
Nice to see and read of all the (bird) species you've seen down under.
The former blog was also nice and I had to laugh when I found out it was about a mammal instead of a bird; because of it's name I automatically thought it was a bird ;-).
Kind regards,
Marianne
I guess as birders our minds automatically shift into bird references!
DeleteAwesome bird!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Miriam! Lovely photos of a Spoonbill I discover here!
ReplyDeleteWarm hugs to the both of you :)
I did see two of them but not this close. Fine shots :)
ReplyDeleteSpoonbills as "poster birds" indeed....nice.
ReplyDeleteHi David. As you are probably aware, Eurasian Spoonbills are quite uncommon in the UK so I see few unless I am on my travels. I am always disappointed by the ones I see as they seem to spend an inordinate length of time doing absolutely nothing but just sitting there with their spoony bills tucked into their plumage. Congratulations on finding a spoonbill in movement.
ReplyDeleteLlevo desconectado del "mundo blog" casi dos meses así que voy a pasar un buen rato en tu blog para ponerme al día de todo lo que me he perdido. Un fuerte abrazo desde España, todo lo mejor!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots, they are fascinating birds to see in the flesh, those bills are quite a work of art I think.
ReplyDeleteaww.... the bird "standing up to 92cm tall?".... never saw such a tall bird.
ReplyDeletehave a great day
Lovely series of photographs of this tall bird.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Hi David. Fantastic bird and shots. Congrats
ReplyDeleteHi david,
ReplyDeletethank you for this reportage of (again) a species I'd never heard of.
Best regards, Corrie
Beautiful... and I read and see from your post that their feeding behavior is fun to watch, just as their American cousins...the roseate ones we see in Florida. That’s how I think of them too, as poster birds (for *warm* wetlands only ...)
ReplyDeleteGlorious pictures, David. I am quickly putting Australia and New Zealand back on my bucket list!!! (We had it on the list for scuba diving, but many dive sites are no longer viable due to global warming …) Maybe birds will be our new reason to go!
ReplyDeleteIt is a long haul to get there but well worth it. And there could be no better reason than birds obviously!
DeleteLovely and very special Spoonbill!
ReplyDeleteNicely captured by Miriam! I can imagine, that it is fascinating to see this lovely bird in his behavior!
Regards,
Maria
What a striking bird! I enjoyed your photos.
ReplyDeleteOnly seen this in blogs but not live ones. It is a very unique bird.
ReplyDeleteEs una belleza!! Impresionante las dos "palas" de su pico. Fantásticas fotos.
ReplyDeleteBuen jueves.
Un abrazo.
What a fantastic bill on this bird! I think I have a pair somewhat similar in my kitchen drawer. I have to say they do a great job of gathering food as well. :)
ReplyDeletemany thanks for the kind comment you left for me today!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Miriam. It is very beautiful and delicate spoonbill.
ReplyDeleteSpoonbill? What an interesting name, but surely great name!
ReplyDeleteYellow -billed Spoonbill is so elegant,David.
Lovely day to you!
Beautiful pictures of these spoonbills David.
ReplyDeletePerfectly photographed.
Best regards, Irma
Good photos of a kind of spoonbill similar in shape to the ones where I live, although it is a totally discolored version, different from the pink and carmine shades that I see in my birding times.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the name Leeuwerik I see a little bird in front of me who is sitting in a treetop but ...... here I see a whole other lark! A Yellow-necked Lark. Also a bird that is special and that I will probably never see of my life. You have really seen very special and beautiful birds David :-)
ReplyDeleteKind regards, Helma