Northern Bald Ibis vs Sharp-tailed Ibis

Northern Bald Ibis

Geronticus eremita

Large1.2 kgRocky

The northern bald ibis is a large, glossy black bird, 70–80 cm (28–31 in) long with a 125–135 cm (49–53 in) wingspan and an average weight of 1.0–1.3 kg (35–46 oz). The plumage is black, with bronze-green and violet iridescence, and there is a wispy ruff on the bird's hind neck. The face and head are dull red and unfeathered, and the long, curved bill and the legs are red. In flight, this bird has powerful, shallow, and flexible wing beats. It gives guttural hrump and high, hoarse hyoh calls at its breeding colonies, but is otherwise silent.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: MPF · CC BY 2.5

Sharp-tailed Ibis

Cercibis oxycerca

Huge1.8 kgGrassland

This large ibis measures 75–86 cm in length, with males being slightly larger than females. In adult males, the flat wing measures 390–415mm lengthways, and the culmen measures 156–168mm from the base of the bill. In adult females, the wing is 376–413mm long and the culmen 144–197mm. The species is distinguished by its notably long tail, the longest among all extant ibis species; measuring 250–301mm in males and 256–272mm in females. The tail projects beyond the tips of the folded wings when the ibis stands; and beyond the trailing legs in flight.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Miguel Jacques · Public domain

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Northern Bald Ibis and Sharp-tailed Ibis.