African Spoonbill vs White-faced Ibis

Platalea alba compared with Plegadis chihi

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute African Spoonbill White-faced Ibis
Scientific Name Platalea alba Plegadis chihi
Order Pelecaniformes Pelecaniformes
Family Threskiornithidae Threskiornithidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 76.8 cm (30.2 in) 49.3 cm (19.4 in)
Weight 1460.0 g (51.50 oz) 574.8333333333334 g (20.28 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 2-3 2-5
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

African Spoonbill only

None

White-faced Ibis only

None

Conservation Status

Least Concern

African Spoonbill

Least Concern

White-faced Ibis

About These Birds

African Spoonbill

The African Spoonbill is a large wading bird of the Threskiornithidae family, with an impressive wingspan of about 77 cm and a weight of around 1,460 g. It sweeps its distinctive spatula-shaped bill side to side through shallow water to filter out fish, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates.

White-faced Ibis

The White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) is a medium-sized wading bird of the family Threskiornithidae, closely related to and formerly considered conspecific with the Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus). Breeding adults are distinguished from the Glossy Ibis by a band of white feathers bordering the bare reddish facial skin around the eye and bill base, and by reddish (not grayish-blue) legs. In non-breeding and juvenile plumages the two species are extremely similar, with the White-faced Ibis showing warmer reddish-brown tones and red …

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family