White-faced ibis Plegadis chihi

Identification Tips:

• Sexes similar
• Medium-sized long-legged long-necked wader
• Bill long, dark gray, and decurved
• Holds neck extended in flight

Adult alternate:

• Red eye
• Bare facial skin ringed entirely with a white band of feathering that remains of even width throughout
• Bare facial skin at lores is bright red
• Red legs
• Head, neck, back and belly an iridescent purple-red, appearing dark or black at a distance or in poor light
• Wings and tail iridescent green

Adult basic:

• Red eye
• Bare facial skin is grayish, and not bordered by white
• Gray-green legs
• Head, neck, back and belly a duller gray-brown without iridescence
• Head and neck streaked with white

Immature:

• Dull blue-gray facial skin
• Eye becomes red during first fall, but may be difficult to observe
• Gray-green legs
• Dull gray brown head and neck sometimes with white streaking
• Dull gray brown back and belly

Similar species:

Curlews much smaller, brown above and white below, not dark and iridescent. Immature White Ibis has a white belly. White-faced Ibis can be distinguished from Glossy Ibis in alternate plumage by its red eye, red facial skin, white border to the facial skin that is of even width and encircles the eye and the red legs. In basic plumage it can be distinguished by the red eye and the lack of any border to the facial skin (which has turned gray). Dark-eyed immatures cannot be distinguished with certainty from immature Glossy Ibis.