Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes
Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Deniliquin, NSW, Australia, March 2006 - click for larger image Australia

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 and photos 1 to 6 were taken at Deniliquin, NSW. Photo 6 was taken in Western Australia where the species is mainly a winter visitor.
Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Deniliquin, NSW, Australia, March 2006 - click for larger image 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.
Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Deniliquin, NSW, Australia, March 2006 - click for larger image 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.
Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Deniliquin, NSW, Australia, March 2006 - click for larger image
Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Deniliquin, NSW, Australia, March 2006 - click for larger image
Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Deniliquin, NSW, Australia, March 2006 - click for larger image
Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Cheyne Beach, Western Australia, October 2013 - click for larger image
Previous Page Back to Index Next Page
If you do not see a menu on the left, you may have arrived at this page from another site. Please click Home to get to my main page.
Fatbirder's Top 1000 Birding Websites