A cosmopolitan wader and the most widespread of all ibis species. Its ancestry is rooted in the Old World, but it has successfully colonized a vast range, extending to the Americas and beyond, showcasing its remarkable adaptability.
The bird is aptly named for the iridescent sheen of its feathers, which, in the right light, gleam with a spectrum of colors from glossy green to purple and bronze, particularly prominent in the breeding season. Outside of breeding plumage, the Glossy Ibis presents a somewhat muted appearance with more pronounced streaking on the head and neck.
One of the more adaptable waders, the Glossy Ibis frequents a variety of wetland habitats, including marshes, swamps, rice fields, lagoons, and riverbanks. The bird’s long, curved bill is a specialized tool, perfect for foraging in the mud and shallow waters for a diet that is as diverse as its habitat: it includes insects, small fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and various invertebrates. This diet makes the Glossy Ibis an integral part of its ecosystem, controlling insect populations and contributing to the balance of the food chain.
During the breeding season, Glossy Ibises are gregarious, forming large colonies often shared with other waterbirds. This sociality provides many benefits, including increased vigilance against predators and cooperative feeding opportunities. Nesting sites are typically located in reed beds or dense vegetation and sometimes even in trees near water. These nests are made from reeds, twigs, and leaves.
The monogamous pair bonds of the Glossy Ibis, usually formed for the duration of the breeding season, are characterized by mutual displays of affection such as preening and bill rubbing. Both parents are involved in nest construction, egg incubation, and the feeding of chicks, which is done through regurgitation.
Distribution
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bosnia And Herz.
Botswana
British Indian T.
British Virgin Is.
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central Af. Rep.
Chad
China
Cocos Is. (Keeling)
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czechia
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Guadeloupe
Guinea-Bissau
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Islands
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Martinique
Mauritania
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Niger
Nigeria
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Lucia
Saint Pierre
Saint Vincent
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Kitts & Nevis
Sudan
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks & Caicos
UAE
US Virgin Islands
Uganda
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
