Bird Guide

Bare-faced Ibis vs Royal Spoonbill

Bare-faced Ibis (Phimosus infuscatus)

Bare-faced Ibis

Phimosus infuscatus

Large559 gWetland

The bare-faced ibis is either dark brown or a blackish color. It is called the bare-faced ibis because it does not have any feathers on its face. It has a long decurved bill with a pinkish to reddish brown colour. The skin on its face is usually a reddish color, and it also has long orange colored beak with pink legs. The total length of the ibis ranges between 45 and 50 cm.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Tiago Lubiana · CC0
Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia)

Royal Spoonbill

Platalea regia

Huge1.7 kgWetland

The royal spoonbill 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. It eats fish, shellfish, crabs and amphibians, catching its prey by making a side-to-side movement with its bill. The end of the bill of the royal spoonbill is broader and works more like a pair of tongs than the narrower bill of the yellow-billed spoonbill, which acts like a forceps.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Heidi Meudt · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Bare-faced Ibis and Royal Spoonbill.