Royal Spoonbill
Platalea regia
Foreshore, Cairns North, FN Qld IMG_3607 20201210 - adult: bright red patch on forehead, yellow oval patch aboveeach eye, pure white plumage. CLICK for another, 20201017.
Notes: Large white bird w. a long, spoon-shaped bill, black
facial skin & legs. Bill is textured w.
numerous pimples & creases.
Adult has yellow oval patch above each eye and red patch on centre
of forehead
(colours reduced on non-breeding adult). Breeding adult develops long white plumes
on the back of head. Juvenile face black, bill smooth. Often feeds in shallow
wetlands, intertidal
zones, either singly or in small flocks. Submerges bill,
makes a sweeping motion to feed.
Range from Morcombe & Stewart©(modified)
Karumba Point, FN Qld IMG_5342 20200620 - breeding plumage: mane of long white plumes extending from hindcrown.CLICK for close-up.
Longreach Waterhole, Elliott, NC NT IMG_1229 20180718 - 3 x Royal Spoonbill + a Yellow-billed Spoonbill. CLICK for threeRoyals at Dunn Road Ephemeral Swamp, Cairns, FNE Qld 20231025.
Foreshore, Cairns, FNE Qld IMG_4010 20231002 - adult non-breeding plumage.CLICK for one at Dunn Road EphemeralSwamp, Cairns, FNE Qld20231020.
Foreshore, Cairns, FN Qld IMG_7969 20200702 - adult: beginnings of breeding plumage.
Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, FN Qld IMG_0889 20200803 - juvenile (smooth bill, bare parts black), Australian White Ibis &Wandering Whistling-Ducks. CLICK for a juvenile at Freshwater Lake, Centenary Lakes, Cairns, FNE Qld 20231209.
Dunn Road Ephemeral Swamp, Cairns, FNE Qld IMG_9178 20231025 - juvenile/young adult (smooth bill, bare parts black).CLICK for two landing.
Karumba Point, FN Qld IMG_4648 20200618 - juvenile feeding near noisy Pied Stilt.
Foreshore, Cairns North, FN Qld IMG_3628 20201210 - adult feeding in surf.
Foreshore, Cairns North, FN Qld IMG_9361 20201017 - adult and Australian White Ibis.