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
- 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
Bare-faced ibises are usually seen in large flocks of their own species or with other species of ibis, sometimes even found with domestic animals. They live in close range neighboring amongst other flocks of ibis, typically known for the closest living habitats that range from being 100 meters away from the nearest neighbor. They are not very territorial towards other ibis birds, and are rarely found alone, but most of the time their aggression is limited to food robbery from another ibis or animal. Regarding nesting behavior, it is less aggressive when compared to other species of ibis. The males have a larger bill than the females relative to their body sizes, and sexual selection is not as intense as it is in other species. They share nests with other species as well.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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