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White Ibis

Eudocimus albusOrder: CICONIIFORMESFamily: Ibises (Threskiornithidae)

White Ibis Portrait_2
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General

White Ibis: This coastal species is white overall with pink facial skin, bill, and legs that turn scarlet during breeding season. Black tips on the primary feathers are only seen in flight. Flies in straight line formation with neck and legs outstretched, roosts high in trees and bushes at night. Sexes are similar and juvenile has brown upperparts with white underparts and rump.

Range and Habitat

White Ibis: Prefers coastal salt marshes, swamps, and mangroves. Found along the Gulf Coast, mid-Altantic coast and Mexican coast and has become common in some city parks. Breeds as far north as Virginia and casual as far north as New Jersey, mid-west and Southwest.

Voice Text

"hunk-hunk-hunk-hunk"

Interesting Facts

  • When feeding, White Ibis often give a soft, grunting croo, croo, croo as they forage. They may fly up to 15 miles a day in search of food.
  • Around their colonies, ibises eat crabs and crayfish, which in turn devour quantities of fish eggs. By keeping down the numbers of crayfish, the birds help increase fish populations.
  • The main conservation concerns for white ibis are hunting and habitat loss. Birds and eggs are hunted for food. When the colony is disturbed by hunting, adults will leave their nests and the young may die.
  • A group of ibises has many collective nouns, including a "congregation", "stand", and "wedge" of ibises.


Author

Jane Wright Splitbar
Range Map for White Ibis
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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family
Species Eudocimus albus
Length21 - 27 Inches
Wingspan24 Inches

White Ibis

White Ibis: This coastal species is white overall with pink facial skin, bill, and legs that turn scarlet during breeding season. Black tips on the primary feathers are only seen in flight. Flies in straight line formation with neck and legs outstretched, roosts high in trees and bushes at night.

● Song: "hunk-hunk-hunk-hunk"

● Foraging & Feeding: White Ibis: Eats mainly aquatic crustaceans and insects. Forages by probing in shallow water with their long, decurved bills.

● Breeding & nesting: White Ibis: Two to four pale blue to green-white eggs with brown blotches laid in a nest made of sticks and reeds by the female with materials gathered by the male. Usually in a tree over water. Monogamous and usually nests in colonies with other wading birds.

● Similar species: White Ibis: Glossy Ibis only found in the East and White-faced Ibis similar to juvenile but has white underparts and rump.

Flight Pattern

Flap and glide with rapid wing beats in a straight line.
White Ibis Body Illustration_2
● Range & Habitat: White Ibis: Prefers coastal salt marshes, swamps, and mangroves. Found along the Gulf Coast, mid-Altantic coast and Mexican coast and has become common in some city parks. Breeds as far north as Virginia and casual as far north as New Jersey, mid-west and Southwest.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial
PopulationCommon to abundant
MigrationSome migrate
Weight36.8 Ounces