It is hard to miss yellow-billed spoonbills on Oman’s coasts. Scientific researches mention that the yellow-billed spoonbill is a large bird with a white plumage and a yellow face and spatulate (spoon-shaped) bill.
The long spoon-shaped bill, bare-skinned face, legs and feet are all yellow, while the iris is pale yellow. Males and females are similar in plumage and colouration. In the breeding season, the face is lined with black, long hackles develop on the chest, and the wings have black tips. The bill of the yellow-billed spoonbill is narrower and works more like a forceps than the larger-ended and more spoon-like bill of the royal spoonbill, which acts like a pair of tongs. Like all members of the ibis and spoonbill family, it always flies with its head extended.During breeding season, the facial skin is outlined in black, the lacy outer wing plumes are tipped black and there are long hackles on its upper breast.
Their large spoon-shaped bills easily distinguish them from all other wading birds. The yellow bill and legs distinguish the Yellow-billed Spoonbill from the slightly smaller Royal Spoonbill.
In Oman, This bird can be seen along the shorelines especially in the shallows of freshwater wetlands, dams, lagoons and swamps, and sometimes in dry pastures. It is widely found on the coasts of Dhofar, Al Wusta, Al Sharqiyah South and North, Al Batinah. The Yellow-billed Spoonbill can be found across East Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Several studies indicate that the yellow-billed spoonbill feeds on aquatic insects and their larvae, using its bill to sweep shallow waters for prey. The bird has many vibration detectors, called papillae, on the inside of the spoon, which means the bird can feel for prey items even in murky and muddy water and can feed by day or night. Once food is caught, it lifts its bill up and lets the items slide down its throat. The yellow-billed spoonbill has less sensory papillae and a smaller spoon than the Royal Spoonbill, which means that it catches slower moving prey.
The yellow-billed spoonbill nests once or twice a year, generally when water is plentiful. The breeding season varies: it is usually March to May after the wet season in the north of the country, and in winter–spring (August to October) in more temperate areas. The nest is a platform constructed of sticks; it has a hollowed centre, and can be located on the branches or fork of a tree, the base of which is often submerged in water. Reed beds are another nest location. Nests are often located in colonies, with other species such as the royal spoonbill, Australian white ibis, straw-necked ibis, as well as herons, egrets or cormorants. The average lifespan of a spoonbill ranges 10-15 years.
The presence of these unique birds in their natural habitats is the result of the conservation efforts of the Sultanate of Oman’s government.
TEXT & PHOTO BY YAHYA AL SALMANI
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