Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis, adult, breeding plumage

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Glossy Ibis, adult, nonbreeding

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1. Description
2. Similar Species
3. Sound
4. Range
5. Other Names

A dark wading bird with a long, down-curved bill. Although the Glossy Ibis in North America lives primarily along the Atlantic Coast, it also can be found in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

Description

• Size: 48-66 cm (19-26 in)
• Weight: 500-800 g (17.65-28.24 ounces)

• Long, down-curved bill.
• Long dark legs.
• Body all dark.

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Immature

Similar to adult, but with dark banded bill and duller body.

Similar Species

• Herons have straight, not curved bills.
• Immature White Ibis has white rump and belly.
• White-faced Ibis is extremely similar, but shows a white feather border completely surrounding the face during breeding season, has a red face and eyes, reddish legs or red around leg joints.

Sound

Nasal moaning "urm." Croaks and rattles at breeding colony.

Range

Range Map

© 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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Summer Range

Resident along coast from southern Maine to eastern Louisiana. Also through Caribbean, northern South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

Other Names

Ibis falcinelle (French)
Ibis cara oscura (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

Davis, W. E., Jr., and J. Kricher. 2000. Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus). In The Birds of North America, No. 545 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.