Royal Spoonbill

The renowned ornithologist John Gould first described the royal spoonbill in 1838, naming it Platalea regia and noting its similarity to the Eurasian spoonbill (P. leucorodia). The species is a large, white bird with a black, spoon-shaped bill. It is approximately 80 cm (31 in) tall, 74–81 cm (29–32 in) and a weight of 1.4–2.07 kg (3.1–4.6 lb). It is a wading bird and has long legs for walking through water. (Wikipedia, general species account).

A 2010 study of mitochondrial DNA of the spoonbills by Chesser and colleagues found that the royal and black-faced spoonbills were each other's closest relatives. It eats fish, shellfish, crabs and amphibians, catching its prey by making a side-to-side movement with its bill. The species is carnivorous, catching small animals by sweeping its bill through shallow water and swallowing prey once detected. Royal spoonbills also probe submerged plants directly for prey, and seize prey such as spiders above ground. (Wikipedia, general species account).