Royal Spoonbill in its natural habitat
Common rarity

Royal Spoonbill

Platalea regia

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StatusNative
RarityCommon
Height79 cm
Weight1700 g
Image of Royal Spoonbill
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Did You Know?

3 Facts
1

"Royal spoonbills can feed at night, using their sensitive bills to detect prey in complete darkness!"

Field Guide

Royal Spoonbill

5 sections

The royal spoonbill, or kōtuku ngutupapa in Māori, is a striking wading bird that has successfully colonized New Zealand from Australia. About the size of a white heron but with a distinctive spoon-shaped bill, this elegant bird adds a touch of the unusual to our wetlands and coastal areas. Its recent spread across New Zealand makes it an exciting find for birdwatchers.

Distribution Map

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Diet

Insects
Insects
Reptiles_and_amphibians
Reptiles and amphibians
Fish_AquaticPrey
Fish AquaticPrey
Crustaceans
Crustaceans

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