About Platalea regia Gould, 1838
The royal spoonbill (Platalea regia Gould, 1838) is a large wading bird. It is entirely white, with a distinctive black, spoon-shaped bill, and long legs adapted for walking through water. It reaches approximately 80 cm (31 in) in height, has a body length between 74–81 cm (29–32 in), and weighs 1.4–2.07 kg (3.1–4.6 lb). Its diet consists of fish, shellfish, crabs, and amphibians. It catches prey by sweeping its bill from side to side in the water. Compared to the narrower bill of the yellow-billed spoonbill, which functions like forceps, the broader end of the royal spoonbill's bill operates more like a pair of tongs.
