The White-faced Ibis has a namesake white mask that starts near the bill and goes completely around the eye. The White-faced Ibis can be found all across the southwestern part of the United States and even reaches as far north as Montana, and as far East as Florida. Long, curved bill. In the wild I have seen all but the Scarlet Ibis. During the breeding season, a white feather border can be seen around the base of the bill along with red lores and legs. If you see narrow bluish or blue-white narrow feathers around the eye but not encircling it, you spotted the rare Glossy Ibis. This wading bird's range is more to the central and western regions of North America. Ibis must be ancient flying dinosaurs. Distribution. White-faced Ibis: This medium-sized wading bird is iridescent bronze-brown overall and has a thin band of white feathers around its bare red face, a long, down curved bill, and red eyes, legs and feet. As far as their size, a Glossy Ibis is on average the larger of the two species. Years ago, a small nesting colony of 125 white-faced ibis showed up on the refuge. These two species are very similar and offer a nice identification challenge. The White-faced Ibis is very similar in appearance to the Glossy Ibis. The white-faced ibis is a long-legged wading bird with reddish eyes and a long, slender, decurved bill. (a) White-faced Ibis has pinkish-red to burgundy facial skin, with a striking rim of white feathers that surrounds the facial-skin patch and extends behind the eye. These two can be very difficult to separate in non-breeding condition, and bare part colors are the key. Very difficult to separate from the White-faced Ibis. Last month when I visited the Yolo Basin (Vic Fazio) Wildlife Area it was yet to be flooded. For this reason, we will focus on breeding season identification tips. The glossy ibis is a wading bird in the ibis family,with its long, slender, down-curved bill and magnificent. (b) Glossy Ibis has dark gray facial skin, with thin pale-blue or gray-blue margins that are also skin and do not extend behind the eye. Notice the leg and eye color differences in the images below. The best way to tell the White-faced and Glossy Ibis apart is by their facial patterning. I photographed this adult White Ibis at Fort De Soto County Park’s north beach in a tidal lagoon one evening in June of 2009, the sun was starting to set and the tide was going out rapidly. White-Faced Glossy Ibis. Glossy Ibis ranges across much of the globe while White-faced is limited to western parts of the New World. The White-Faced and Glossy Ibis are both more distinctive during breeding season when their markings are more prominent. It is very similar in appearance to the glossy ibis except during the breeding season when the white-faced ibis has a narrow border of white feathers all around its bare facial skin at the base of the bill. A dark wading bird with a long, down-curved bill, the White-faced Ibis is a western replacement for the Glossy Ibis. (a) White-faced Ibis retains its red eye and reddish/pinkish tinge to the gray facial skin; the red leg color is lost. There are two species of Ibis that occasionally pass through: the White-faced Ibis, and the Glossy Ibis. ( Log Out /  This section is from the book "Bird Guide: Water Birds, Game Birds And Birds Of Prey East Of The Rockies", by Chester A. Reed. The white-faced ibis is very similar to the glossy ibis in its non-breeding plumages, but it tends to be slightly smaller and the plumage color is somewhat warmer. Very difficult to separate from the White-faced Ibis. It is of course not uncommon for birds to stray from their normal range. The White-faced Ibis is very similar in appearance to the closely related Glossy Ibis and identification can be difficult. Very similar to the Glossy Ibis, and mostly replaces it west of the Mississippi River, although the two species occur together in parts of the southeast. However, range for these two species can be used as a general guideline. The Glossy Ibis (Plegadisfalcinellus) is a cos- mopolitan species, with North American populations breeding primarily in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal areas of the United States and in the Greater Antilles (Davis and Kricher 2000). These ibises can be found in areas along the southeastern coastlines of some US states. Return to Wading Birds. As a group they are found throughout the warmer regions of the world. (b) Glossy Ibis retains plain dark gray facial skin with the narrow pale blue or pale gray margins, although these can be harder to see than in breeding plumage. Return to Ibises. Florida has a few records of White-faced Ibis every year, although Glossy Ibis makes up an overwhelming majority of the population. // DRAGONFLY & DAMSELFLY CHECKLIST The white-faced ibis is a long-legged wading bird with reddish eyes and a long, slender, decurved bill. Initially called a Glossy Ibis, on closer inspection the possibility of a White-faced was raised because of the hints of cinnamon or red in … Very thin white border surrounding the dark facial skin. White-faced/Glossy Ibis (Plegadis sp.) We hope you found this article helpful. Could you see the color of the eyes or legs? In flight, they often fly in long lines or \V\ formation. As a group they are found throughout the warmer regions of the world. // BIRDING MAP There are three other Ibis species found in North America, the White-faced, Glossy and Scarlet Ibis. An inhabitant of shallow marshy areas, flooded fields and ponds, the White-faced Ibis uses its long legs to wade in the water. White Ibis Glossy Ibis White-faced Ibis New World Vultures Turkey Vulture Hawks and Allies Osprey White-tailed Kite Golden Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper’s Hawk Northern Goshawk Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Swainson’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Ferruginous Hawk Owls It alternates several shallow rapid wing beats and short glides, and flies in a straight line formation. Description. Similar in appearance and habits, the two species can be distinguished only by slight differences in coloring of the face and legs. Glossy and White-faced Ibis hybridize regularly and, if Glossy Ibis is expanding west, such hybrids may become more frequent as well. The white-faced ibis is very similar to the glossy ibis in its non-breeding plumages, but it tends to be slightly smaller and the plumage color is somewhat warmer. The Glossy Ibis is virtually identical to its close relative, the White-faced Ibis, and extreme care should be taken when trying to differentiate between the two.However, while the White-faced Ibis can be common in parts of the state (primarily the Northeast), the Glossy Ibis is normally only found near the Gulf Coast and southern Atlantic Coast. I'm not sure if a hybrid Glossy x White-faced Ibis can be ruled out, though. Ibis must be ancient flying dinosaurs. While both are rare, the Glossy is the more uncommon of the two in our state. Be sure to visit the “Episodes” page to view their show. The White-faced Ibis has brightly colored legs ranging from pink to red. They are seen in the wetlands during late April into May. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Very thin white border surrounding the dark facial skin. On July 19, 1970, 4 dead and 3 dying 2-4 week old ibis were collected from the Lavaca Bay nesting colony on the Texas gulf coast (Flickinger and Meeker 1972). White-Faced Ibis Contaminant Exposure Data. The white-faced ibis looks similar to the glossy ibis except for the white outline around the face, which is where it gets its name. He discovered the 87,000 acre Chico Basin Ranch to be the perfect natural laboratory to study and photograph birds, dragonflies, grasshoppers and other insects. When observing immature White-faced Ibises, it can be extremely difficult to separate from the closely related Glossy Ibis. White-faced Ibis X Glossy Ibis : White-faced Ibis X Glossy Ibis : White-faced Ibis X Glossy Ibis : White-faced Ibis X Glossy Ibis : White-faced Ibis X Glossy Ibis Usually gregarious, it is found mainly in salty marshes and shallow wetlands. They are mostly tactile feeders, and use their long, often decurved bills to probe in shallow water or mud for invertebrates or small vertebrates. The photo isn't sharp enough to see the eye color. The glossy ibis is rather uncommon, however, and often confused with the white-faced ibis… This feature can be tough to pick out depending how far away the bird is, but even at distance the pink tint of the White-faced Ibis’s legs can be seen. Adults mostly dark with iridescent green and reddish tones. It alternates several shallow rapid wing beats and short glides, and flies in a straight line formation. I photographed this adult White Ibis at Fort De Soto County Park’s north beach in a tidal lagoon one evening in June of 2009, the sun was starting to set and the tide was going out rapidly. Note the dark iris, gray facial skin, and thin pale lines on upper and lower facial skin borders, all which point to Glossy Ibis genes. Again, this feature is much easier to observe when the bird is close but can still be seen with a scope or high powered camera. Immature Ibis Okefenokee Swamp. White-faced Ibis - Looks like the above, but the eye is red and the bare skin on the face is reddish-brown. The White Ibis and Glossy Ibis are both restricted in range to the east and southeast of the U.S., plus northern parts of South America. Other articles where White-faced ibis is discussed: ibis: …and its close relative the white-faced ibis (P. chihi) are small forms with dark reddish brown and glossy purplish plumage. Thanks! Dark eyes. An inhabitant of shallow marshy areas, flooded fields and ponds, the White-faced Ibis uses its long legs to wade in the water. To separate the eastern Glossy Ibis from the western species, White-faced Ibis… For all ibis species, the young are a delicacy (and illegal). The ibises are long-legged, long-necked wading birds that look superficially like herons. White-faced Ibis lack the trademark white face in non-breeding plumage, and thus eye color is often the best way to differentiate the species. If you see narrow bluish or blue-white narrow feathers around the eye but not encircling it, you spotted the rare Glossy Ibis. "The thin lines bordering the facial skin would initially suggest Glossy Ibis. The White-faced Ibis ranges in the central and western parts of North and Central America, ranging all the way to the Pacific Coast. Note the facial differences with the Glossy behind the White-Faced. Adults mostly dark with iridescent green and reddish tones. In flight, they often fly in long lines or \V\ formation. Concentrations in Adults and Juveniles. Juveniles lack the white on the face and the red legs. //. I am used to observing both species almost year around due to working along the gulf. Therefore, if an Ibis is found in the western states, it is usually a White-faced, however, that is not always the case. This thick white mask is unbroken by any other colors. Adults are dark copper/brown in colour with shiny dark green wings. Their feeding styles, however, are very different. A dark wading bird with a long, down-curved bill, the White-faced Ibis is a western replacement for the Glossy Ibis. I couldn't tell for sure in the photo, but the legs appear to be dull (Glossy Ibis, not bright pink (White-faced Ibis). Glossy Ibises can range anywhere from 18.9-26 inches. To separate the eastern Glossy Ibis from the western species, White-faced Ibis, first look at the feathering around the eyes. White-faced Ibises wander through the west during the warmer months, and they may quickly find and take advantage of temporary new habitat after rains or flooding. Credit: Alan Schmierer/Flickr Creative Commons The white-faced ibis is found in Mexico, parts of South America and the south western United States. Eye color is another indicator of distinguishing these two species. This ibis nests colonially, often with other Check the eyes, they should be brown, not red, and look at the leg color, gray, often with pinkish “knees”. Their habits are comparable to other wading birds, often probing the muddy waters of freshwater marshes with White Ibises at their side, searching for crawfish, frogs, small fish, crabs and insects. Breeding adults have a pink bare face bordered with white feathers (rather than a bluish bare face with no bordering feathers), a grey bill, and brighter colored, redder legs. Wetland units in “Tract 2” are home for the ibis colony. Similar in appearance and habits, the two species can be distinguished only by slight differences in coloring of the face and legs. The eye of a Glossy Ibis is dark, while it's reddish on a White-faced Ibis. A dark wading bird with a long, down-curved bill, the White-faced Ibis is a western replacement for the Glossy Ibis. The eye isn't as red as in White-faced, but isn't as dark as Glossy. Plumage is chestnut colored with green and purple iridescent. The bird appears to be an adult White-faced x Glossy hybrid. Please feel free to contact us to suggest other similar articles or provide feedback. Egg, Collection Museum Wiesbaden. Their habits are comparable to other wading birds, often probing the muddy waters of freshwater marshes with White Ibises at their side, searching for crawfish, frogs, small fish, crabs and insects. White-Faced Glossy Ibis. They are relatively large birds with bright reddish-brown bodies, complete with iridescent green wings, long legs, and a long, curved bill. This gives the pattern a “broken” look. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Usually gregarious, it is found mainly in salty marshes and shallow wetlands. The Glossy Ibis has a dark iris, while the White-faced Ibis’s is red. To separate the eastern Glossy Ibis from the western species, White-faced Ibis, first look at the feathering around the eyes. As far as their size, a Glossy Ibis is on average the larger of the two species. White Ibis Glossy Ibis White-faced Ibis New World Vultures Turkey Vulture Hawks and Allies Osprey White-tailed Kite Golden Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper’s Hawk Northern Goshawk Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Swainson’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Ferruginous Hawk Owls White-faced Ibis lack the trademark white face in non-breeding plumage, and thus eye color is often the best way to differentiate the species. This last weekend, heading down to the bay area for the California Burrowing Owl Consortium meeting, I checked with the Department of Fish and Game and found that they had begun flooding the refuge. Similar in appearance and habits, the two species can be distinguished only by slight differences in coloring of the face and legs. For birds in non-breeding plumage or juvenile birds identification is extremely difficult. Egg, Collection Museum Wiesbaden. My brother recommended I might like this blog. The facial skin is violet, grading to bluish-gray towards the bill. 24 in. The scientific name derives from Ancient Greek plegados and Latin, falcis, both meaning "sickle" and referring to the distinctive shape of the bill. Juveniles of the two species are nearly identical. The glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a wading bird in the ibis family Threskiornithidae. In the wild I have seen all but the Scarlet Ibis. Unlike the leg color of Glossies, this species’ leg color is bright pink in high breeding plumage with darker pink “knees”. Presumably reflecting identification difficulties, and perhaps the timing of White-faced Ibis migration, records of the Glossy Ibis from Colorado and adjacent states are concentrated between mid April and mid May (Faulkner 2004), and almost invariably pertain to adults in alternate plumage with their bare parts in full breeding condition. Distribution. Their feeding styles, however, are very different. However, the eye has definite red in it (not as bright as surrounding White-faced Ibis) and the lines are tinged pink, not sky-blue, as would be normal for Glossy Ibis. Long, curved bill. Change ). Glossy Ibis - A very dark, shiny iridescent bird that has a brown eye and the bare skin on the face is dark gray or brown. at Oregon Inlet, Dare Co., NC This hatch year (first fall) Plegadis ibis was photographed at the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center on Nov. 7-9, 2008. While there certainly is a size difference, given their averages it would still not be out of the realm of possibility for a White-faced to be larger than a Glossy. The ibises are long-legged, long-necked wading birds that look superficially like herons. We normally see three ibis species in coastal Texas - white, white-faced and glossy. Flocks of Glossy Ibises wade in the shallows of eastern marshes, probing for food with their sickle-shaped bills. They are mostly tactile feeders, and use their long, often decurved bills to probe in shallow water or mud for invertebrates or small vertebrates. They are mostly tactile feeders, and use their long, often decurved bills to probe in shallow water or mud for invertebrates or small vertebrates. He was totally right. Two look alike species often occur together in migration and they hybridize with increasing frequency. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. They look out of place wherever I see them. For the first time in recent years, refuge managers observed ibis breeding on the complex’s wetlands. Glossy and White-faced Ibis. Adults have red eyes year-round, whereas glossy ibises have dark eyes.

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