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Glossy ibis

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Hàbitat Natural
Location in the zoo

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Geographic distribution:

Southern Europe, Africa and Madagascar, central and south Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Australia

Scientific name:
- Plegadis falcinellus falcinellus
Taxonomy:
- Class: Birds
- Order: Ciconiiformes
- Family: Threskiornithidae
Biology:
- Area of origin: Africa, America, Asia, Europe, Oceania
- Habitat: Marsh
- Social life: Gregarious
- Food: Insectivorous

Rating:
- Birds
Physical Characteristics:
- Longevity: more than 20 years
- Weight at birth:
- Middleweight: 485 - 580 g
- Length: 48 - 66 cm
Reproduction
- Reproduction: Oviparous
- Incubation: 20 - 23 days
- Number of eggs: 2 to 6 eggs, normally 3 or 4

Risk level of the species

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Red list: Scale according to the situation of the species IUCN

Description

This is the smallest ibis and dark coloured. It is unmistakable due to its long curved bill, its stylised silhouette and glossy plumage that shines in the sun with metallic tones. The face has lighter, highly-visible lines that also surround the bill. It is the only ibis that naturally inhabits Europe today.
Typical bird of salt marshes, they are often found with small herons and spoonbills, sharing breeding colonies with them. They seek food both in the salt marshes and on lands far from water. Their diet is basically comprised of insects and their larvae, molluscs, crustaceans and worms, although they wouldn’t reject small amphibians, reptiles or fish. They seek food in shallow fresh waters, showing a decided preference for rice paddies.
It is a clearly migratory species in many sites of its area of distribution, although the Iberian population is resident and only makes temporary and erratic movements.
Although this species has extensive distribution around the world, the European subspecies has unfortunately shrunk greatly since the 20th century and has practically disappeared in the majority of European countries.
They stopped breeding in Spain at the beginning of the 20th century, although they started reproducing again in later decades of the same century in sites such as Doñona National Park, the lagoon of Valencia and the Delta de Ebre. The population is recovering notably in these regions and many others.

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