| Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes |
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Deniliquin, NSW, Australia March 2006 The Yellow-billed Spoonbill is distributed around the coasts of Australia with the exception of the Great Australian Bight and extends far inland when there has been rain. The Murray-Murrumbidgee Basin seems to be a particularly good breeding area for this species. |
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It is seldom found in tidal areas but prefers small bodies of freshwater where it feeds on insects, crustaceans and small fish which it captures by sweeping its sensitive bill from side to side. Long legs allow it to feed in deeper water and the nostrils being set at the base of the bill allow it to breath while foraging. | |
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Its breeding plumage can be seen well in photos 1 and 2 showing a fine black line round the face, long, thin black plumes on the wings and long whitish plumes on the breast. I assume that the bird in photo 3 is an immature since it lacks these features. |
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