Photo: Aliceinthealice / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Australian White Ibis
Threskiornis molucca
Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) is a member of the Threskiornithidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 1.8 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pelecaniformes
- Family Threskiornithidae Ibises, Spoonbills
- Genus Threskiornis
- Species molucca
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.8 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Threskiornithidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Australian White Ibis hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Australian White Ibis is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) is a species of bird in the Threskiornithidae family, part of the order Pelecaniformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Wallacea, New Guinea, Australia and Solomon Is.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.8 kg, with a wing length of about 35.2 cm and a tail of around 12.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 564,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Australian White Ibis?
The Australian White Ibis is a very large bird that weighs around 1.8 kg.
Where does the Australian White Ibis live?
The Australian White Ibis is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Wallacea, New Guinea, Australia and Solomon Is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Australian White Ibis belong to?
The Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) belongs to the Threskiornithidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Australian White Ibis eat?
The Australian White Ibis hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Australian White Ibis migrate?
The Australian White Ibis is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Australian White Ibis endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Australian White Ibis make?
1 real field recording of the Australian White Ibis — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Australian White Ibis's range?
The Australian White Ibis has a mapped global range of about 564,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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