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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Threskiornithidae
  4. ›
  5. Platalea
  6. ›
  7. Yellow-billed Spoonbill
Yellow-billed Spoonbill
Photo · (c) Brandyn Britton

BirdUp · Species

Yellow-billed Spoonbill

Platalea flavipesGould, 1838

Updated 8 April 2026

Origin: Endemic
Order
PELECANIFORMES
Family
Threskiornithidae
Genus
Platalea

At a glance

The Yellow-billed Spoonbill is a very large bird, about 76–92 cm long, endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
76–92 cm
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Yellow-billed Spoonbill look like?

The Yellow-billed Spoonbill is a very large bird, about 76–92 cm long and weighing 1810–1930 g.

The yellow-billed spoonbill is a gregarious wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae. It is native to Australia, and is a vagrant to New Zealand, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
76–92 cm
Weight
1810–1930 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Yellow-billed Spoonbill?

The Yellow-billed Spoonbill is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Yellow-billed Spoonbill eat?

The Yellow-billed Spoonbill feeds on intertidal invertebrates and fish/invertebrates, usually foraging alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Yellow-billed Spoonbill live in Australia?

The Yellow-billed Spoonbill is endemic to Australia, recorded across 77 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingAustralia (except Tasmania)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Breeding

8 regions recorded