Photo: Platalea Regia Bird

The Platalea regia also known as the Royal Spoonbill bird wades in the shallow waters in Otago, New Zealand.

Platalea regia is the scientific name for the Royal Spoonbill bird. It can be found in estuaries, the shallows of wetlands or tidal areas in regions of New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. This particular bird was leisurely wading in an estuary near Hinahina in Otago, New Zealand.

The Platalea regia is a large bird flaunting a white plumage, a long black spoon shaped bill and extremely long legs. As they wade through the water, you may see the Platalea regia moving his bill from side to side. This is how the bird catches his daily meals of shellfish, crab, fish, frogs and other types of aquatic creatures.

When breeding season approaches the Royal Spoonbill will find a mate to keep for the season where they nest in a colony. The male and female tend to the eggs and the care in feeding their young until such time that the young bird and the family decides it is time to separate. ... continue below the picture...

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The Platalea Regia or Royal Spoonbill is not one of the bird species on the endangered list so there is a good chance of capturing a picture of one when in Otago, New Zealand.

Royal Spoonbill, Platalea regia, in an estuary near Hinahina along the Southern Scenic Route, Catlin's Highway, Otago, East Coast, South Island, New Zealand.