White Ibis

(Eudocimus albus)

Photograph © David Sarkozi 1994

The White Ibis as an adult is a distince bird. Snowy white, long pink decurved bill and facial skin (redder during the breeding season). In flight the wings have black tips. The black feathers do not extend to the secondaries like in a White Pelican or Wood Stork. Both Wood Stork and White Pelican tend to soar much higher and with stiffer bodies and wings. White Ibis fly low with quick, noisy wingbeats.

White Ibis also tend to fly in Vee's in stead of loose flocks like Storks and Pelicans.

Immatures are brown above, lighrter below. They become mottled with brown heads and white bodies during the winter. The bill and legs with be pinkish like an adult, not dark as in Glossy Ibis and White-faced Ibis.

White Ibis can be found anywhere there are wet fields, flooded fields, freshly plowed fields, marshes, lakes, or bayou's. They become less common in the winter, but it is a bird I would expect to see anyday in the proper habitat.

A breeding range map is available form the Breeding Bird Survey
A winter range map is available from the Christmas Bird Count

Last updated 2/25/96

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