Bird Guide

Buff-necked Ibis vs Green Ibis

Buff-necked Ibis (Theristicus caudatus)

Buff-necked Ibis

Theristicus caudatus

Huge1.7 kgGrassland

It has a total length of approximately 75 centimetres (30 in). The neck is buffish, the upperparts are grey, the belly and flight feathers are black, and there is a large white patch in the wings. In flight, where the relatively short legs do not extend beyond the tail (unlike e.g. Eudocimus and Plegadis), the white patch forms a broad white band on the upperwing that separates the black remiges and the grey lesser wing-coverts. The bill and bare skin around the eyes are blackish and the legs are red.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: JuanCMuniz · CC BY 4.0
Green Ibis (Mesembrinibis cayennensis)

Green Ibis

Mesembrinibis cayennensis

Large756 gForest

The green ibis is a medium-sized ibis, with short legs and a long, slender, decurved bill. It measures 45–60 cm (18–24 in) in length and ranges from 700 to 890 g (1.5 to 2.0 lb) in mass. The sexes, which are identical in plumage, overlap somewhat in measurements, though the largest birds are male. Breeding adults have glossy greenish-black bodies, pale green legs and bill, and grey bare facial skin patches. Juveniles are much duller, but can be distinguished from the similar glossy ibis by their bulkier shape, shorter legs and broader wings.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Andrew Hrycyna · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Buff-necked Ibis and Green Ibis.