Glossy Ibis

Plegadis falcinellus

The Glossy Ibis is a beautiful bird with shiny, dark feathers that shimmer in the sunlight. They love to wade in shallow waters looking for tasty insects and small fish to eat.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Glossy Ibis has a striking deep bronze-maroon body with iridescent green and purple sheen on its wings and back that shifts in sunlight. It features a long, slender, downcurved bill and dark legs, making it visually distinct from other wetland birds.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPelecaniformesFamilyThreskiornithidaeGenusPlegadis

Glossy Ibis

Interesting facts

Baby ibises have dull feathers at first, gaining their glossy sheen as they grow older.

Their dazzling feathers look bronze, purple, and green in sunlight, constantly shifting!

These birds fly in V-formations, saving energy on incredibly long migrations!

They often wade belly-deep, using their long legs and bills to find hidden snacks!

Special abilities

Glossy Ibises can probe deep into mud and water with their long, curved bills, helping them find hidden prey.

This ibis has feathers that flash bronze, green, and purple in sunlight, acting like natural camouflage that changes with light.

Glossy Ibises often feed in groups, which helps them find more food and stay safer from predators in open wetlands.

The Glossy Ibis can fly thousands of kilometers during migration, helped by efficient V-formation flying.

Measurements & details

Length: 48-66 cm
Wingspan: 80-105 cm
Weight: 0.485-0.78 kg
Lifespan: 14-20 years
Top Speed: 50 km/h
Clutch Size: 3-6
Incubation: 20-23 days
Migration Distance: 4500 km

Diet & Feeding

These elegant birds probe muddy waters for a varied menu of small invertebrates and aquatic creatures.

Primary Foods

Aquatic Insects
Crustaceans
Snails
Earthworms
Small Fish

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

hunts

Red Swamp Crayfish

Procambarus clarkii

Frequently prey upon invasive crayfish.

depends on

Broadleaf Cattail

Typha latifolia

Often uses dense stands for nesting sites.

eaten by

Pallas's Fish Eagle

Haliaeetus leucoryphus

Adults or juveniles may be hunted by large raptors.

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.

Aerial

Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Filter Feeder

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

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

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.