Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a common ibises and spoonbill found in 174 countries, weighing about 627 g. The glossy ibis is a water bird in the order Pelecaniformes and the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae.
About the Glossy Ibis
The glossy ibis is a water bird in the order Pelecaniformes and the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The scientific name derives from Ancient Greek plegados and Latin, falcis, both meaning "sickle" and referring to the distinctive shape of the bill.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This species is a mid-sized ibis. It is 48–66 cm (19–26 in) long, averaging around 59.4 cm (23.4 in) with an 80–105 cm (31–41 in) wingspan. The culmen measures 9.7 to 14.4 cm (3.8 to 5.7 in) in length, each wing measures 24.8–30.6 cm (9.8–12.0 in), the tail is 9–11.2 cm (3.5–4.4 in) and the tarsus measures 6.8–11.3 cm (2.7–4.4 in). The weight can range from 485 to 970 g (1.069 to 2.138 lb). Breeding adults have reddish-brown bodies and strongly iridescent wing feathers, bottle-green to bronzed or purple depending on the light angle.
What the Glossy Ibis sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Finland, Japan, Libya, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Gambia, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, St. Barthélemy.
When to see it
The Glossy Ibis can be seen all year round, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Glossy Ibis?
- This species is a mid-sized ibis. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Glossy Ibis?
- The Glossy Ibis is a large sized bird weighing about 627 g.
- Where can you see a Glossy Ibis?
- The Glossy Ibis occurs in 174 countries, including the United States, India, Spain, South Africa and Australia.
- What does a Glossy Ibis sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Glossy Ibis on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Glossy Ibis?
- The Glossy Ibis is most easily confused with the White-faced Ibis and the Puna Ibis.
- Is the Glossy Ibis endangered?
- The Glossy Ibis is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Glossy Ibis for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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