Bird
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellusAlso known as Black Curlew
Glossy ibises feature deep reddish-brown bodies accented by a striking metallic green and purple iridescence on their wings. These cosmopolitan wading birds probe shallow water and mudflats with long, downcurved bills to capture aquatic invertebrates. They breed in dense, noisy colonies among reeds, trees, or low shrubs near extensive wetlands.
Wading BirdMigratoryIridescent
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyCrayfish, Aquatic Insects, Small Fish
Predators
- Eagles
- Snakes
- Raccoons
ThreatsHabitat loss, wetland drainage, pollution, and disturbance at nesting colonies
HabitatsFreshwater marshes, lakeshores, coastal lagoons, flooded pastures, and rice paddies
Life span15–20 years in the wild
Classification
- OrderPelecaniformes
- FamilyThreskiornithidae
- GenusPlegadis
- SpeciesPlegadis falcinellus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observe from a Distance: Keep well clear of nesting colonies to avoid flushing incubating parents.
- Look for Iridescence: View under direct sunlight to see the metallic green and purple sheen on adult plumage.
- Scan Wetland Edges: Look for active probing behavior in shallow water and muddy fields.
Frequent Companion Shantanu Kuveskar / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Kahio Tiberio Mazon · cc0
Close Relative (c) unnormalized, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Family Member (c) Nigel Voaden, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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