Description: The Royal Spoonbill gets its name from its unusual straight bill with a spoon-shaped end. They have white feathers with black bills and legs.

Diet: Royal Spoonbills are carnivores. Their diet consists mainly of fish, but they also eat insects and crustaceans once they have crushed them with the end of their bill.

In the wild: The Royal Spoonbill uses its oddly shaped bill to capture its prey in the water. By swimming along and swaying the bill from side to side under the surface the bird is able to grasp its food. They then eat whatever they catch by throwing their head back, sliding the food down their throat and swallowing.

Threats: Destruction of habitat through land-clearing, increased salinity and flooding are all threats to the Royal Spoonbill. However, artificial wetlands have been beneficial in some areas. They are listed as a vulnerable species in Victoria.