The Royal Spoonbill is a large white waterbird. It sweeps its black, spoon-shaped bill through shallow water to find fish and shrimp. During breeding, its head crest grows longer.
Its body is white, while the spoon-shaped bill, facial skin, legs, and feet are black. During breeding, its nape crest grows and bright pink appears under the wings.
It searches for prey in water less than 40 cm deep, sweeping its bill from side to side. It mainly eats fish in fresh water and shrimp on tidal flats.
In New Zealand, nests of twigs lined with leaves and other vegetation are placed in tree crowns over water or in tall reeds. Clutches contain 2–4 eggs, incubated by both parents for 20–25 days; both also feed the chicks.
In breeding condition the upper breast has a creamy wash, with a yellow patch above the eye and a red patch in the middle of the forehead.
Juveniles resemble nonbreeding adults but are slightly smaller with a shorter bill and dark tips to the main flight feathers. They lack a crest and the coloured facial patches.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.