White ibis

Very good at detecting storms, often the last to leave and first to arrive before and after a hurricane

Terry Foote

The white ibis is a medium-sized wading bird found in swamps, mangroves, and salt marshes of the southern United States, along the coasts of Mexico, Central America, and some regions of northern South America.

The adults have striking white plumage and a patch of bare pink skin on their faces. During the breeding season, this patch of skin, bill, and legs becomes scarlet.

They are highly gregarious, gathering in large flocks to feed on small aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates such as insects, larvae, worms, and even small fish and frogs, by wading and probing the mud or the bottom of shallow water bodies with their curved bills.

White ibises are monogamous, but males often mate with other females later on. They nest colonially with other ibis species and herons. Both parents share nest building, incubating eggs, and feeding the chicks.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Bahamas
2021
Non-Breeding
Belize
2021
Cayman Islands
2021
Non-Breeding
Colombia
2021
Costa Rica
2021
Cuba
2021
Dominican Republic
2021
Ecuador
2021
El Salvador
2021
Non-Breeding
Guatemala
2021
Non-Breeding
Haiti
2021
Honduras
2021
Jamaica
2021
Mexico
2021
Nicaragua
2021
Panama
2021
Peru
2021
Puerto Rico
2021
Seasonality Uncertain
Trinidad & Tobago
2021
Seasonality Uncertain
Turks & Caicos
2021
Non-Breeding
United States
2021
Venezuela
2021

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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