Bare-faced Ibis
Phimosus infuscatus
Rather small ibis, widespread in South America but with an unusual distribution: found on either side of the Amazon basin. Dull blackish with iridescent green and blue in the wings; most obvious feature is the bare pinkish face and bill. Legs pink. Found in flocks, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. Forages in open pastures, fields, and wetlands.
Identification
The bare-faced ibis is either dark brown or a blackish color. It is called the bare-faced ibis because it does not have any feathers on its face. It has a long decurved bill with a pinkish to reddish brown colour. The skin on its face is usually a reddish color, and it also has long orange colored beak with pink legs. The total length of the ibis ranges between 45 and 50 cm.
Taxonomy
Genus: Phimosus; Family: Threskiornithidae; Order: Pelecaniformes.
- Scientific name
- Phimosus infuscatus
- Authority
- (Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823)
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Family
- Threskiornithidae
- Genus
- Phimosus
Range and habitat
It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The bare-faced ibis occurs in open areas such as wet meadows, savannas, marshes, and rice fields. The ibis is usually near sea level but was recorded in Venezuela and Colombia. When an ibis is about to lay its eggs it builds a nest out of sticks and twigs to put them in and it will lay between 2 and 5 eggs and will then sit on them for protection purposes for up to three weeks.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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