365 Days | From 9am till sunset
GR | EN
Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Adopt it!

Scientific Name:

Plegadis falcinellus


Distribution

Africa, Australia, C & S Asia, S Europe, east coast of N, C & S America


Diet:

Omnivore. Insects and their larvae, worms, leeches, molluscs, crustaceans, small vertebrates (fish, frogs, tadpoles, lizards and small snakes), rice and other grains.


Facts

Habitat:  Freshwater or brackish wetlands with tall dense vegetation (e.g. reeds or rushes) and low trees or bushes. 


Incubation: 20-23 days / 3-4 eggs


Social structure: breeding period groups of 5-100 pairs or large aggregations of thousand pairs, during winter in small flocks of up to 30 individuals.


Weight: 840gr max


Dimensions: 48-66cm


Lifespan: ~14


Estimated population in the wild: 230,000-2,220,000


Threats: Habitat destruction, disturbance, pesticides, avian influenza outbreaks


IUCN Status: Least concern


Did you know that:

  1. The Glossy Ibis is a ‘tactile forager’, locating prey items by touch as it probes the substrate with its long, curved bill. Touch sensors on the bill allow the bird to rapidly snap it closed when it encounters prey.
  2. In Greece it is a rare and local summer visitor evaluated as "Critically Endangered".
  3.  



Search our animals :



Search our animals alphabetically