Bare-faced Ibis

Phimosus infuscatus

The Bare-faced Ibis is a unique bird with a shiny, bare face! They are often seen in groups and love to wade in shallow waters looking for food.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Bare-faced Ibis has a dark, glossy plumage with a purplish-green sheen, making it appear iridescent. Its most distinctive feature is the patch of bare, blackish skin on its face, contrasting with its dark feathers. It also has a long, decurved, dark bill.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPelecaniformesFamilyThreskiornithidaeGenusPhimosus

Bare-faced Ibis

Interesting facts

Bare-faced Ibises love to nest in huge colonies, sometimes sharing space with other feathered friends!

Their scientific name *Phimosus infuscatus* means 'dark-stained muzzle' because of its unique bare face!

These birds use a fun variety of grunts, croaks, and squawks to chat with each other!

Unlike their parents, baby Bare-faced Ibises are born with fuzzy faces, growing bare as they mature!

Special abilities

Bare-faced Ibis can find hidden prey because its long, curved bill is sensitive to touch and vibrations in the mud.

Bare-faced Ibis has strong flocking instincts that help them locate abundant food sources and stay safe from predators.

Bare-faced Ibis can easily navigate shallow waters because its sturdy legs and feet are adapted for wading through mud.

Measurements & details

Length: 45-50 cm
Wingspan: 80-90 cm
Weight: 0.45-0.55 kg
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Top Speed: 45 km/h
Clutch Size: 2-4
Incubation: 21-23 days

Diet & Feeding

These ibises love to eat small creatures they find in mud and shallow water, especially insects and worms.

Primary Foods

insect larvae
beetles
earthworms
snails
crustaceans

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Great Black Hawk

Buteogallus urubitinga

This large raptor may prey on ibis chicks or less vigilant adults.

eaten by

Spectacled Caiman

Caiman crocodilus

Caimans in wetlands are opportunistic predators of ibis adults and eggs.

eats

Common Earthworm

Lumbricus terrestris

A primary food source, these worms are dug from soft mud.

eats

Spike-topped Apple Snail

Pomacea diffusa

These snails are a common invertebrate prey found in shallow wetlands.

Traits

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Omnivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.

Filter Feeder

Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.