Bird · GBIF taxon 2480814
Madagascar Crested Ibis
Lophotibis cristataAlso known as Madagascar Ibis, White-winged Ibis, Crested Wood Ibis
Madagascar crested ibises are striking forest dwellers endemic to Madagascar, easily recognized by their iridescent crests and contrasting white wing patches visible in flight. They walk quietly across the damp forest floor, using their long curved yellow bills to probe leaf litter for frogs, snails, and insects. Monogamous pairs defend permanent territories, building solitary stick nests high in the canopy to raise their young.
Forest DwellerEndemicCrested
—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Insects
- Frogs
- Lizards
Predators
- Fossa
- Madagascar Harrier-Hawk
- Malagasy Tree Boa
ThreatsDeforestation, habitat fragmentation, hunting pressure
HabitatsPrimary rainforests, dry deciduous forests
Life span10–15 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyThreskiornithidae
- SpeciesLophotibis cristata
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.
- What to notice
- Look for a brown ibis with a bushy iridescent crest, bright red facial skin, and white wing panels.
- Support conservation
- Avoid approaching active nests or using playback calls that distress territorial pairs.
Responsible observation
- Listening for Calls: Listen for loud raucous croaks echoing through dense forest understory.
- Safe Distance: Maintain a respectful distance to prevent flushing pairs while they forage.
- Habitat Spotting: Look for them on the damp ground beneath dense canopy cover early in the morning.
Predator 
Predator (c) Micha Baum, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Micha Baum · cc-by-sa
Family Relative Chuck Homler, Focus On Wildlife / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-saFamily Relative
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