White-Faced Ibis
Plegadis chihi
Also known as: White-Faced Glossy Ibis
About This Species
A gregarious wading bird with a long, downcurved bill, it forages in shallow marshes, flooded fields and pond edges, probing mud for invertebrates often alongside herons and egrets. Look for it in loose flocks flying in lines with neck outstretched, most numerous around wetlands in spring and summer breeding colonies, with a distinctive glossy, iridescent sheen visible in good light.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Observe nesting colonies from at least 50 to 100 metres, ideally from a vehicle, blind or established trail, since colonial waders are highly sensitive to disturbance and can abandon nests en masse if flushed repeatedly.
- Many breeding colonies sit within protected wetland reserves where approach distances are posted and enforced, and disturbing nesting waterbirds is restricted under wildlife protection law in much of its range.
- Avoid entering marsh vegetation near visible nests or roosts.
LCAvesPelecaniformesThreskiornithidae
Seasonal Activity
854,136 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Family
- Threskiornithidae
Photo
(c) Ad Konings, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ad Konings
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.