The African Spoonbill (Platalea alba) and the Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) are both white wetland wading birds with a spoon-shaped beak (bill).

The African Spoonbill has a pink-grey narrow beak, and the end of the beak is narrow which acts like a pair of forceps to grab its prey.

The Royal Spoonbill has a black beak, and the end of the beak is broad which acts like a pair of tongs to grap its prey.

African Spoonbill (left) and Royal Spoonbill (right)

The African Spoonbill is taller than the Royal Spoonbill. The African Spoonbill is 90 centimetres (35.5 inches) tall, whereas the Royal Spoonbill is 80 centimetres (31 inches) tall.

The African Spoonbill has a red face, whereas the Royal Spoonbill has a black face.

The African Spoonbill is from Africa, and the Royal Spoonbill is from Australasia (Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea).

African Spoonbill (left) and Royal Spoonbill (right)

Royal Spoonbill

African Spoonbill

African Spoonbill

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM