26-3-2025 YALA NAT PARK, SRI LANKA - BLACK HEADED IBIS (Threskiornis melanocephalus)

 The Black-headed Ibis, known scientifically as Threskiornis melanocephalus, presents a striking figure with its predominantly white plumage, sharply contrasting with its black head and neck. The species, also referred to as the Oriental White Ibis, Indian White Ibis, or Black-necked Ibis, is a large wader, with adults typically ranging from 65 to 76 cm in length. Its tail is adorned with light grey ornamental feathers that turn a deep black during the breeding season, adding to its distinctive appearance.

To identify the Black-headed Ibis, look for the characteristic naked black head and neck, and the down-curved black beak. During the breeding season, you may notice bare patches under the wing turning a vivid blood-red, and some adults may exhibit a blueish tinge on the head or, more rarely, a pink or bright red patch behind the neck. Juveniles can be distinguished by their greyish neck and speckled brown-grey wings and back.

This adaptable bird frequents a variety of habitats, both natural and man-made. It can be found in freshwater and saltwater marshes, lakes, ponds, rice fields, crop fields, irrigation canals, riversides, reservoirs, urban lakes, open sewage gutters, grazing lots, and even garbage dumping sites.

The Black-headed Ibis breeds across South and Southeast Asia, from India to Japan. It is a native resident in countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is also known to migrate or appear as a vagrant in Japan, Korea, Laos, and Mongolia.

The species exhibits a seasonal preference for different foraging habitats, particularly in agricultural landscapes. In summer, it favors natural marshes and fallow fields, while during the monsoon, it disperses more widely into agricultural fields. In regions with more forests and rocky hills, wetlands remain the preferred habitat throughout the year.

The Black-headed Ibis is generally silent, lacking a true voice-producing mechanism. However, it does produce ventriloquistic grunts, particularly by pairs at the nest.

Breeding occurs only during the rainy season. The ibis nests in heronry colonies near wetlands, constructing platform nests of sticks lined with grass and threads. In urban areas, old trees are often utilized for both roosting and nesting.

24-3-2025 GAL OYA LAKE, SRI LANKA - BLACK HEADED IBIS (Threskiornis melanocephalus)

The black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus), also known as the Oriental white ibis, Indian white ibis, and black-necked ibis, is a species of wading bird of the ibis family Threskiornithidae which breeds in the South and Southeast Asia from India to the west and as far east as Japan. It is the only native ibis species in its range that has an overall white plumage with a black neck and head. The down-curved beak and legs are also black. Though often referred to as a wetland species, the black-headed ibis forages in a range of natural and man-made habitats. This species of ibis nests only during the rainy season.

The black-headed ibis is one of several large waterbird species in south and south-east Asia, with adults measuring 65–76 cm in length. The white plumage is starkly contrasted against a conspicuous naked black neck and head, and black down-curved beak. Tails of adults bear light grey ornamental feathers that turn jet black during the breeding season. During the breeding season, bare patches under the wing turn blood-red. The head of some breeding adults gain a blueish tinge, or very rarely have a pink or bright red patch behind the neck] Some breeding adults also develop tufts of white feathers behind the neck, and rarely also get a yellowish colouration on the breast and back. Sexes are identical but juveniles are identifiable from adults in having greyish feathering on the neck and speckled brown-grey feathering on the wings and back. Like storks and spoonbills, it lacks a true voice-producing mechanism and is silent except for ventriloquistic grunts uttered by pairs at the nest.

Black-headed ibis are native to the following countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. They are migratory or vagrant in Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic and Mongolia. The species is a widespread breeding bird in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Myanmar, and has declined considerably to few locations or breeding colonies in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The most rapid decline in recent times is suspected to be the population in Sumatra.

The black-headed ibis is very versatile being able to use a large variety of natural and man-made habitats. These include freshwater and salt-water marshes, lakes and ponds, as also rice fields, freshly ploughed crop fields, irrigation canals, riversides, reservoirs, urban lakes, open sewage gutters, grazing lots, and garbage dumping sites. Ibis alter use of varied preferred foraging habitats by season in agricultural landscapes such as in south-western Uttar Pradesh in India. In summer, they largely use and prefer natural marshes and fallow fields, but in the monsoon, spread out more evenly to also use a variety of agricultural fields. In landscapes that have more forests and rocky hills as in southern Rajasthan, wetlands are the preferred habitats year-round and there is little difference in habitats used in different seasons. In more urban landscapes, black-headed Ibis abundance was positively associated with crop fields, wetlands and open areas. Open sewage lines are used more during the dry summers, and ibis increase the use of grazing lands during the monsoon.

It nests in heronry colonies near wetlands. It builds a platform nest of sticks, lined with grass and threads. Old trees in cities are used for night roosting and for nesting. 

The daily activity budget of Black-headed Ibis in a protected wetland showed ibises to spend the maximum time feeding (48%), followed by resting (23%).

11-3-2020 KERALA, INDIA - BLACK HEADED IBIS (Threskiornis melanocephalus)