African Spoonbill vs African Sacred Ibis

Platalea alba compared with Threskiornis aethiopicus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute African Spoonbill African Sacred Ibis
Scientific Name Platalea alba Threskiornis aethiopicus
Order Pelecaniformes Pelecaniformes
Family Threskiornithidae Threskiornithidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 76.8 cm (30.2 in) 72.8 cm (28.7 in)
Weight 1460.0 g (51.50 oz) 1522.0 g (53.69 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 2-3 2-3
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

African Spoonbill only

None

African Sacred Ibis only

Conservation Status

Least Concern

African Spoonbill

Least Concern

African Sacred 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.

African Sacred Ibis

65–89 cm. White with bare black head and neck; black wingtips; red underwing stripe. Widespread sub-Saharan Africa, Nile Delta, and naturalised in southern Europe and elsewhere. Feeds by probing in wetlands and grasslands for invertebrates. Colonial breeder; associated with ancient Egyptian mythology.

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