White-faced Ibis

White-faced Ibis
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Subclass:	Neornithes
Infraclass:	Neognathae
Superorder:	Neoaves
Order:	Ciconiiformes
Family:	Threskiornithidae
Genus:	Plegadis
Species:	P. chihi
Binomial name
Plegadis chihi (Vieillot, 1817)
Synonyms
Plegadis falcinellus chihi Plegadis falcinellus mexicana

The White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) is a wading bird in the ibis family Threskiornithidae.

This species breeds colonially in marshes, usually nesting in bushes or low trees. Its breeding range extends from the western USA south through Mexico, as well as from southeastern Brazil and southeastern Bolivia south to central Argentina, and along the coast of central Chile. Its winter range extends from southern California and Louisiana south to include the rest of its breeding range.

It is very similar to the Glossy Ibis in its non-breeding plumages, but the plumage color is somewhat warmer and breeding adults have a pink face bordered with white, a grey bill, and redder legs (see illustration). Adults have red eyes year-round, whereas Glossy Ibises have dark eyes. Juveniles of the two species are nearly identical.

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Plegadis chihi. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

• The Sibley Guide to Birds, David Sibley, 2000, ISBN 0-679-45122-6

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Plegadis chihi

• White-faced Ibis Species Account - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• White-faced Ibis Information and Photos - South Dakota Birds and Birding
• White-faced Ibis - Plegadis chihi - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter