ML201878911 IBC 1503184

Note contenuto multimediale

A Yellow-billed Spoonbill standing, yawning and preening with a Purple Swamphen. The strange Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes) is one of two Spoonbill species that occur in Australia. The sensitive tip of the spathulate (spoon-shaped) bill is an adaptation that allows Spoonbills to hunt for their invertebrate prey in deeper, muddy water by sweeping their bills from side to side. This bird is in breeding condition – the edge of its facial skin is lined in black and it has fine black wing plumes. This Yellow-billed Spoonbill was standing on the edge of Herdsman Lake near Perth, preening its feathers and yawning occasionally while a Purple Swamphen grazed nearby. Elevation: 7 m. Date added to IBC: July 2, 2018.