Royal Spoonbill
Royal Spoonbill ( Platalea regia)
The King Spoonbill ( Platalea regia ) is a widespread species in Australasia from the family of Ibises and spoonbills ( Threskiornithidae ). The IUCN classifies the king spoonbill as a non- vulnerable ( least concern ).
Features
The king spoonbill has a body length of 74-81 inches, reaches a weight 1400-2070 grams and a wingspan of 120 centimeters. Males are slightly larger and have a longer bill and longer legs and during the breeding season a bonnet. Outside the breeding season they lack the hood and the lower neck area is yellow. The beak and naked skin of face are black, above the eyes there is ever a small yellow spot at the apex of a red. The beak and feet are black.
Typical behaviors of the king spoonbill has a slow below in an upright posture. King Löffler also show a sideways head movement with which they are looking for in the shallow water zone for food. In flight, the neck is stretched, the beak has straight forward, the feet are stretched backward. The flight stroke is very fast, the flight is repeatedly interrupted by short gliding phases.
Possible confusion exist only with the equally occurring in Australia Cory Loeffler. However, this has a yellow beak and yellow legs and feet.
Distribution and habitat
The king spoonbill comes to the north and east of Australia, in New Zealand, in the extreme south of New Guinea, on Rennell Island (Solomon Islands), the Moluccas, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Sulawesi and Java before. In New Zealand it is a relatively rare bird. Prior to 1940, he was limited to a few vagrants, towards the end of the 20th century, he brooded at four locations in the South Island. Not Brooding King Löffler 's compared to New Zealand's two main islands along the coastline more common.
Its habitats are wetlands in inland areas, floodplains, estuaries and protected coastal areas. In the more arid zones of Australia, he also settled permanently or only briefly existing waters. He is dependent on the basis of his beak shape that allows him a foraging only in shallow waters to a depth of eighteen inches, on extensive areas of shallow water.
Most birds that live in Australia on the coast, go hiking. Also flights between Australia and New Zealand were observed. Whether and how far to fly the royal spoonbill, depends on weather conditions. A ringed young bird was 1400 km recovered from the birth nest.
Food and foraging
Royal Spoonbills feed in the wetlands of the inland mainly of small fish, such as Gambusia or gobies. On the coast shrimp and other crustaceans make up a large portion of food. In addition, molluscs, aquatic insects and plant material are eaten. They look for food at night, alone or in groups of up to 50 birds, both on the day as well.
When foraging, the beak is open at the top two to four inches. In the most common form of foraging swing Königlöffer with a lateral head movements, the almost horizontally held beak in shallow water. The motion is arcuate and reached almost 100 degrees. The beak is at the extreme end of such a loop, is the king Löffler foot on the other side of the body forward and he swirls on the substrate. The beak is thereby wholly or partially in the water, sometimes the head is partially inserted into the water. Underwater plants are occasionally studied with fast, punting motion on prey. You grab prey occasionally even with the tip of the beak, usually the beak but not closed until a prey animal touches the beak inside. Since the food is predominantly sensed, they are able, both day and night to search for food.
Reproduction
King spoonbills in southeast Australia from October to March, in Northern Australia from March to May in New Zealand in November. The breeding season varies depending on local weather conditions. Royal Spoonbills are monogamous, the pair bond is probably only one breeding season.
They nest alone or in loose colonies of up to 50 pairs. Breeding colonies are often made over many years. The nest is a loose platform of twigs, branches and soft greenery. It is usually built in trees, but nests may also be located in reed beds. A radius of about one to two meters is defended against conspecifics. There are laid two to four, usually three eggs, which are incubated for 20 to 25 days. Both parents are involved in the breeding birds. The chicks have a white downy feathers. The bill is still just at the beginning and without the typical spoon shape of the beak end. Both parents feed the young birds birds, the duration of the nestling period is not known.