Giant Ibis
Pseudibis gigantea
A hulking gray ibis the size of a large goose and with a distinctively long-bodied appearance, this increasingly rare scimitar-billed waterbird is unmistakable in its limited range. Size alone separates this species from other ibises that share its range; also note wrinkly bald head, dark back, and beautifully scalloped wings. Forages singly, in pairs, or in small flocks. Inhabits lowland plains, moving in response to water availability, occasionally gathering at waterholes during especially dry periods. Forages in marshy or flooded openings in wooded areas, and roosts and nests in nearby trees. Gives loud rolling bugles at dawn and dusk.
Identification
True to its name, it is the largest extant ibis species. Adults are 102–106 cm (40–41.5 in) long and weigh about 4.2 kg (9.3 lb). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 52.3–57 cm (20.6–22.4 in), the tail is 30 cm (12 in), the tarsus is 11 cm (4.3 in) and the culmen is 20.8–23.4 cm (8.2–9.2 in). The adults have overall dark grayish-brown plumage with a naked, greyish head and upper neck. There are dark bands across the back of the head and shoulder area and the pale silvery-grey wing tips also have black crossbars. The beak is yellowish-brown, the legs are orange, and the eyes are dark red. Juveniles have short black feathers on the back of the head down to the neck, shorter bills and brown eyes.<p>It has a loud, ringing call, frequently repeated around dawn or dusk, a-leurk a-leurk.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pseudibis gigantea
- Authority
- (Oustalet, 1877)
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Family
- Threskiornithidae
- Genus
- Pseudibis
Range and habitat
The giant ibis is a lowland bird that occurs in marshes, swamps, lakes, wide rivers, flooded plains and semi-open forests as well as pools, ponds and seasonal water-meadows in denser deciduous forest. It generally is found in lowlands. One bird was collected in a Malay paddyfield. Formerly the giant ibis was believed to breed in eastern Thailand, central and northern Cambodia, southern Laos and southern Vietnam. It was still fairly common in the Mekong Delta until the 1920s but is now almost depleted, with a small remnant population breeding in Cambodia, southern Laos and possibly in Vietnam.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Sichuan Partridge
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A rare and retiring partridge of mixed forest, found only in the south-central portion of China’s Sichuan province. If seen well, combination of orange cheek patch, striped white throat, and broad maroon chest band is diagnostic. Forms small flocks during the nonbreeding season, like many other related species. Duets loudly at dawn and dusk.
Cape Grassbird
Sphenoeacus afer
A chunky, streak-backed warbler with a rusty head and wings, a ragged rufous tail, and black moustache stripes. It avoids woodland and trees, preferring rank areas with long grass, scrubby edge, and wet heathland (fynbos). It hops and clambers through dense brush and thickets, then flies low on rapidly-beating wings in labored flight to the next bush, immediately diving into cover. But it will also perch on prominent tall shrubs, like proteas, and sing its melodious tinkling jumbled song that starts softly and gets progressively louder. It also has a distinctive flat mewing “meeeeep” call. The Moustached Grass-Warbler is similar to the Cape Grassbird, but it has a plain unstreaked back, a broad black tail, and a pale eye.
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