Ibises and Spoonbills

(Family Threskiornithidae)

Superficially similar to herons but with long decurved (ibises) or spatula-like (spoonbills) bills, with five breeding residents, the Australian White Ibis Threskiornis moluccus, Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia and Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus also breed in other countries, whereas the Straw-necked Ibis T. spinicollis breeds only in Australia. The Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes does not naturally occur anywhere else in the world.