Buff-necked Ibis vs Plumbeous Ibis

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

Plumbeous Ibis

Theristicus caerulescens

Huge1.5 kgGrassland

This large ibis measures 71–77 cm in length, with a wing length of 397-450mm in males and 360-406mm in females. The culmen length is 145-167mm in males, and 126-147mm in females. The sexes are similar in appearance, but the female is slightly smaller. The plumbeous ibis is easily recognisable through a distinctive shaggy crest comprising long grey plumes that extend from the back of head 10 cm down the nape. A prominent, narrow, white feathered band also extends around the forehead, which has earned this species the German common name Stirnbandibis (headband ibis). Voice: The loud vocalisations uttered by this species are diverse. The basic call is a high-pitched, rapid pi-pi-pi-pi which has a somewhat metallic timbre and can be uttered when the bird stands on the ground during daytime. This call has been said to resemble the sound of a banjo with brass strings so big that it could be heard a mile and a half away.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Dario Niz · CC BY 3.0

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