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The Glossy Ibis is a medium-sized wading bird with dark, iridescent plumage, a long curved bill, and long legs. They are found in wetlands and wet fields across much of the globe, where they forage in flocks for a diet of insects, crustaceans, amphibians, and small fish. Their habitat is threatened by drainage and other wetland alterations.
Appearance
Plumage: A rich chestnut-brown body, with metallic green and purple sheens on the wings and back, especially on breeding adults.
Bill: A long, down-curved bill, often greenish-brown.
Size: About 23 inches (58 cm) long with a 36-inch (91 cm) wingspan.
Distinguishing features: Breeding adults have fine white lines around the base of their bill and a reddish-brown or cobalt-blue facial patch.
In flight: They fly with their neck outstretched and legs trailing straight behind.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Found in a variety of wetland environments, including freshwater and saltwater marshes, rice fields, and riverbanks.
Range: A cosmopolitan species found in parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, North America, and South America.
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Diet and feeding
Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on insects (like beetles, dragonflies, and grasshoppers), worms, crustaceans (like crayfish and leeches), small fish, and amphibians.
Feeding behavior: They forage by wading in shallow water and probing the mud with their bills, which are equipped with sensory organs to detect vibrations.
Flocking: They typically forage in groups, sometimes with other species like egrets.
Reproduction
Nesting: They are colonial nesters, building nests in vegetation like reeds or tamarisks.
Eggs: Typically lay 3-4 eggs, with both parents participating in nest building and feeding the young.
Conservation
Status: Not listed as threatened globally by the IUCN.
Threats: Local populations can be threatened by habitat alteration, such as drainage and irrigation, and the invasion of exotic plants.
