# 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. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 11 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Black Ibis ![Glossy Ibis](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Plegadis_falcinellus_Syracuse.jpg&width=800) Photo: Egretta_garzetta_Plegadis_falcinellus_Syracuse.jpg : Gabriele Iuvara derivative work: MPF, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plegadis_falcinellus_Syracuse.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Pelecaniformes - **Family:** Threskiornithidae - **Genus:** Plegadis ## 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 - **Probing Beak:** Glossy Ibises can probe deep into mud and water with their long, curved bills, helping them find hidden prey. - **Shifting Iridescence:** This ibis has feathers that flash bronze, green, and purple in sunlight, acting like natural camouflage that changes with light. - **Social Foraging:** Glossy Ibises often feed in groups, which helps them find more food and stay safer from predators in open wetlands. - **Long-Distance Flyer:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a bird, watch quietly from a distance so you don't scare it away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Glossy Ibis? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Glossy Ibis? 48-66 cm ### What is Glossy Ibis's wingspan? 80-105 cm ### How much does Glossy Ibis weigh? 0.485-0.78 kg ### How long does Glossy Ibis live? 14-20 years ### How fast can Glossy Ibis move? 50 km/h ### What does Glossy Ibis eat? These elegant birds probe muddy waters for a varied menu of small invertebrates and aquatic creatures. ### Where is Glossy Ibis usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Compo–Owenoke Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/compo-owenoke-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Green Animals Topiary Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/green-animals-topiary-garden) — Rhode Island, US · Botanical Garden - [Pennellville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pennellville-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Ravenswood Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ravenswood-park) — US · Nature Reserve - [Africatown](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/africatown) — Alabama, US · Neighborhood - [Bay Head Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bay-head-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District [View all places to see Glossy Ibis](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/glossy-ibis) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Glossy Ibis: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/glossy-ibis)