yellowbilled

Yellowbilled, sometimes written yellow-billed or Yellowbilled, is a common name applied to several bird species whose bills are predominantly yellow. It is not a single species or taxonomic group but a descriptive label used across different families, including ducks (Anatidae), storks (Ciconiidae), and hornbills (Bucerotidae). The bright yellow bill is a distinctive feature that aids in species recognition and, in some cases, foraging.

One well-known example is the yellow-billed duck, a dabbling duck native to southern Africa. Adults have a yellow bill and inhabit wetlands, lakes, and slow-moving rivers. They feed on aquatic vegetation, seeds, and invertebrates and are commonly seen in flocks outside the breeding season.

The yellow-billed stork, Mycteria ibis, is an African wading bird with a long yellow bill used to probe mud and shallow water for prey such as fish and amphibians. It favors wetlands, marshes, and riverine habitats and nests in trees or reedbeds near water, often in colonies with other water birds.

The term also applies to several hornbill species that feature yellow bills, found in savannas and forests of sub-Saharan Africa. These hornbills typically forage for fruit and small animals and nest in tree cavities, often displaying a casque on the upper bill. They are social birds, frequently observed in small family groups.

As a vernacular name, Yellowbilled does not denote a single phylogenetic group. Conservation status varies by species and region, with some populations stable and others threatened by habitat loss or other pressures.