Royal Spoonbill
Platalea regia
Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) is a member of the Threskiornithidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 1.7 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pelecaniformes
- Family Threskiornithidae Ibises, Spoonbills
- Genus Platalea
- Species regia
Where it lives
South-central New Guinea, Australia, Tasmania, coastal North and South Is. (New Zealand)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.7 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Threskiornithidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Royal Spoonbill hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Royal Spoonbill is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) belongs to the Threskiornithidae family of the order Pelecaniformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU sc New Guinea, Australia, Tasmania, coastal North and South Is. (New Zealand).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.7 kg, with a wing length of about 35.3 cm and a tail of around 10.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Royal Spoonbill?
The Royal Spoonbill is a very large bird that weighs around 1.7 kg.
Where does the Royal Spoonbill live?
The Royal Spoonbill is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU sc New Guinea, Australia, Tasmania, coastal North and South Is. (New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Royal Spoonbill belong to?
The Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) belongs to the Threskiornithidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Royal Spoonbill eat?
The Royal Spoonbill hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Royal Spoonbill migrate?
The Royal Spoonbill is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Royal Spoonbill endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Royal Spoonbill make?
1 real field recording of the Royal Spoonbill — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Royal Spoonbill's range?
The Royal Spoonbill has a mapped global range of about 5.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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