African Spoonbill vs Black-headed Ibis

Platalea alba compared with Threskiornis melanocephalus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute African Spoonbill Black-headed Ibis
Scientific Name Platalea alba Threskiornis melanocephalus
Order Pelecaniformes Pelecaniformes
Family Threskiornithidae Threskiornithidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 76.8 cm (30.2 in) 70.0 cm (27.6 in)
Weight 1460.0 g (51.50 oz) 1303.0 g (45.96 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 2-3 2-4
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

African Spoonbill only

None

Black-headed Ibis only

None

Conservation Status

Least Concern

African Spoonbill

Least Concern

Black-headed 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.

Black-headed Ibis

65–76 cm. White with bare black head; black wingtips and neck feathers. Resident across South and Southeast Asia in wetlands, rice paddies, and grasslands. Near Threatened; declining due to habitat loss and hunting. Feeds by probing in shallow water for fish and invertebrates; colonial nester.

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