This weeks WBW is brought to you by one of the better beaks - or maybe bills - in the world of birds. The Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) is generally spotless white, sports a 20cm long spatulate (spoon-shaped!) bill, and in breeding plumage also has a few patches of colour. All in all its an impressive bird.
The breeding plumage a buff 'wash' on the breast - although this bird seems to have more than I would call a wash - long plumes off the back of the head and yellow patches of skin over the eyes and a pink patch in the middle of the forehead. As far as I am aware, the male and females both have this set of colours.
This bird was loafing around in some shallow water near a boat ramp, which is not where I normally expect to see them. My experience of these birds is that they are rather more shy than that. As you may anticipate, I did not complain about its cooperativeness!
To join in with WBW just click the blue button below the thumbnails - SM.
The breeding plumage a buff 'wash' on the breast - although this bird seems to have more than I would call a wash - long plumes off the back of the head and yellow patches of skin over the eyes and a pink patch in the middle of the forehead. As far as I am aware, the male and females both have this set of colours.
This bird was loafing around in some shallow water near a boat ramp, which is not where I normally expect to see them. My experience of these birds is that they are rather more shy than that. As you may anticipate, I did not complain about its cooperativeness!
To join in with WBW just click the blue button below the thumbnails - SM.
Gorgeous images of the spoonbill. I did se it in Cairns, The Esplanad and it did not seem shy at all. But the ones I did see was not in this plumage :)
ReplyDeleteI do like that yellow eye. It's very distinctive. Our European Spoonbills are also very shy - a family trait?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link-up today Stewart.
This is one AMAZING bird! What a beauty!
ReplyDeleteHow cool! Great bill and love that “doo”! They look like something out of a sci-fi movie.
ReplyDeletegorgeous bird stewart and great shots of it. Thanks for hosting and have a good week.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteDefinitely got it's eye on something other than the photographer! YAM xx
I'm pretty sure that's an alien cross-breed
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous bird! The bill is amazing and the glowing golden eye is out of this world!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of the Spoonbill and very interesting details of the plumage and colors.
ReplyDeleteWhat a character! Somehow, he seems weirder than our pink ones. In a good way.
ReplyDeleteWow, beautiful shots of the Spoonbill. They are cool looking birds! Thanks for hosting. Have a happy day and week ahead.
ReplyDeleteYou captured this spoonbill so well. Such a unique bird! Almost as if it were "designed by a committee."
ReplyDeleteThe bill looks peculiar compared to the beauty of the rest of the bird. Thank you for sharing this unusual looking creature.
ReplyDeleteWow, we have a spoon bill here, but it doesn't come close. What a magnificent bird and what luck for you to run across him so unexpectedly. He has an Egyptian God or Goddess look about him. I am impressed and I suppose this is yet another Australian bird that the rest of the world doesn't have .... hmmm. I am enjoying your Freda on Facebook ... if she is anything like our little females, good luck :) They are fun and funny , but also very snarfy at times. I love that you rescue your cats ... they are awesome characters. I would say Happy Thanksgiving, but I don't think you do Thanksgiving ... or do you? Be well, Stewart ...
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From the Sol
Handsome in a comical kind of way! Love the "blushes" of color!
ReplyDeleteOh my,Stewart, that is one royal looking bird. The beautiful bill, wash and neck plumes would attract any nubile young female Royal Spoonbill. Thanks for hosting this meme; I continue to linnk up even though my offerings seem very bland compared to the other birders posting their images here. I need to keep birding (even on the run!) until I get out there formally again. Have a great day. Jo
ReplyDeleteA most unusual looking bird
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a great week!
Fascinating birds and great photos. Cheers Diane
ReplyDeleteWell, that is amazing. Have never seen one in real life and in pictures it's hard to believe it really exists. Quite unlike anything else. When I close my eyes to go to sleep tonight - this is what I will see - a Royal Spoonbill!
ReplyDeleteWow! Cool bird!
ReplyDeleteVery smart...but a bit funny, too!
ReplyDelete