White-faced Ibis

Plegadis chihi

The White-faced Ibis is a beautiful bird with shiny feathers and a long, curved beak. They love to wade in shallow water and hunt for tasty insects and small fish.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The White-faced Ibis has glossy, dark maroon-brown plumage with an iridescent sheen of green, bronze, and purple, most noticeable in sunlight. During breeding, it features a striking white feather border around its bare, red facial skin and bright red eyes, making it distinctive among other marsh birds.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPelecaniformesFamilyThreskiornithidaeGenusPlegadis

White-faced Ibis

Interesting facts

Their legs and eyes turn bright red during breeding season, a stunning transformation!

They often forage alongside other wetland birds, sometimes even sharing nesting colonies.

This ibis makes a loud, grunting call that sounds surprisingly like a pig!

Young ibises look plain brown at first, completely different from their vibrant parents.

Special abilities

White-faced Ibises can probe deep into soft mud with their long, decurved beaks to find hidden prey.

This ibis has iridescent feathers that shimmer with spectacular green, bronze, and purple hues in bright sunlight.

White-faced Ibises have long legs and partially webbed feet that help them wade easily through shallow water and mud.

Measurements & details

Length: 46-56 cm
Wingspan: 90-97 cm
Weight: 0.45-0.52 kg
Lifespan: 1-14 years
Top Speed: 45 km/h
Clutch Size: 2-5
Incubation: 21-23 days
Migration Distance: 2000 km

Diet & Feeding

These birds use their curved beaks to find tasty insects, worms, and tiny aquatic animals.

Primary Foods

aquatic insects
earthworms
snails
crayfish
small fish

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Raccoons often raid nests for eggs and young chicks.

eats

Earthworm

Lumbricus terrestris

The ibis probes soft soil and mud for these common worms.

eats

Red Swamp Crayfish

Procambarus clarkii

They forage for these crustaceans in muddy wetland bottoms.

eaten by

Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

Larger raptors occasionally prey on adult ibises.

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.

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.