Glossy ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
Identification Tips:
- Length: 19 inches Wingspan: 37 inches
- Sexes similar
- Medium-sized long-legged long-necked wader
- Bill long, dark gray, and decurved
- Dark brown eye
- Holds neck extended in flight
Adult alternate:
- Bare facial skin at lores is blue-gray
- Bare facial skin bordered partially with a white or pale blue band
that is of varying width and does not encircle the back of the eye
- Legs gray to dull red
- Head, neck, back and belly an iridescent purple-red, appearing
entirely dark or black at a distance or in poor light
- Iridescent green wings and tail
Adult basic:
- Gray facial skin
- Border to bare facial skin still present but dull gray
- Gray-green legs
- Head, neck, back and belly a duller gray-brown without
iridescence
- Head and neck streaked with white
Immature:
- Dull gray brown head, neck, back and belly sometimes with white
streaking
- Facial skin dull blue-gray, develops dull gray border during first
autumn
- Gray-green legs
Similar species:
Curlews also have long decurved bills but are much smaller, brown above
and white below, not black and iridescent. Immature White Ibis has a white
belly. The White-faced Ibis is very similar in all plumages. Adult
White-faced Ibis has a red, not brown, eye. In alternate plumage the
White-faced Ibis has an even white band around the bare red facial skin and
has redder legs. Immatures are extremely similar.
Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.