Kōrero: Wetland birds

Royal spoonbill nests

Royal spoonbill nests

This low coprosma bush on Green Island, Otago, holds two twiggy royal spoonbill nests. These birds usually lay three off-white eggs with light brown blotches. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the hatchlings. The chick has a black face, and the bill has not yet developed its characteristic shape. Chicks fledge when seven weeks old, but are fed by their parents for a few more weeks.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Department of Conservation
Reference: 10047455
Photograph by Neville Peat

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Te tuhi tohutoro mō tēnei whārangi:

Christina Troup, 'Wetland birds - Bitterns and spoonbills', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/photograph/14622/royal-spoonbill-nests (accessed 29 March 2024)

He kōrero nā Christina Troup, i tāngia i te 24 Sep 2007, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015