- Conservation status
- In some trouble
It's hard to mistake a kōtuku ngutupapa for any other bird. Their English name – royal spoonbill – comes from their long black, spoon-shaped bills. They use these impressive instruments to hunt for a feed in shallow wetlands, swishing it from side to side under the water to hunt for crustaceans and aquatic invertebrates. When they catch something, they lift up their bill to allow the morsel to slide down their throat.
Campaign Manager
HealthPak
Normal is Boring.
In a world where everyone wears the same shirt or has the same haircut, we need to get some spunk back in our life. We need more guys wearing Hawaiian shirts and women cutting their hair short like Courtney Cox in that Bruce Springsteen video.
That’s why this year more than ever YOU need to vote Spoonbill. This shaggy-haired showstopper proves that normal really is boring. While other birds strut around with stupid pointy peckers, the Spoonbill brings serious style – a beak designed for sweeping, swishing, and scooping up life’s best bites. Like caviar on a cracker with tomato sauce.
It’s not just a bird; it’s a statement.
So, when it comes to Bird of the Year 2025, don’t settle for “normal.” Celebrate the bird with the boldest beak in Aotearoa. Vote Royal Spoonbill – because boring beaks belong in the past.
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