A rare and elegant wading bird known for its distinct spoon-shaped bill and striking appearance. It gets its name from the bare black skin on its face and its long, flat, spoon-like bill, which it uses to sweep through shallow waters in search of food. During the breeding season, adults develop bright white plumage, a yellow patch on the chest, and a fluffy crest on the back of the head, giving them a regal and eye-catching look. These birds are mostly found in East Asia, particularly in countries like South Korea, Taiwan, China, and parts of Japan.

Black-faced spoonbills are medium-sized birds, standing about 75–80 cm tall (roughly 2.5 feet). They live in coastal wetlands, mudflats, estuaries, and tidal lagoons, where they feed by rhythmically sweeping their bills from side to side through the water to catch small fish, crustaceans, and insects. They often feed in small groups, moving in a line as they forage, which is quite a fascinating sight. Their spoon-shaped bills are incredibly sensitive and can detect movement in murky water, making them excellent hunters even in low-visibility conditions.

These birds are migratory, breeding on a few remote islands off the west coast of North Korea and China, and wintering in southern parts of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Unfortunately, the black-faced spoonbill is one of the rarest spoonbill species in the world, with only a few thousand individuals in the wild. It is listed as Endangered, mainly due to habitat loss, coastal development, pollution, and disturbance at breeding and feeding sites.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Brunei

2017

Seasonality Uncertain

Cambodia

2017

Non-Breeding

China

2017

Hong Kong

2017

Non-Breeding

Japan

2017

Non-Breeding

Korea

2017

Breeding

Macao

2017

Non-Breeding

North Korea

2017

Breeding

Philippines

2017

Non-Breeding

Russia

2017

Breeding: Eastern Asian Russia

Taiwan

2017

Non-Breeding

Thailand

2017

Non-Breeding

Vietnam

2017

Non-Breeding