Photo: Dario Sanches / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Buff-necked Ibis
Theristicus caudatus
Buff-necked Ibis (Theristicus caudatus) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Buff-necked Ibis (Theristicus caudatus) is a member of the Threskiornithidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 1.7 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 Theristicus
- Species caudatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.7 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Threskiornithidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Buff-necked Ibis is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Buff-necked Ibis is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Buff-necked Ibis (Theristicus caudatus) is a member of the Threskiornithidae family, within the order Pelecaniformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA widespread.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.7 kg, with a wing length of about 39.3 cm and a tail of around 21.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Buff-necked Ibis?
The Buff-necked Ibis is a very large bird that weighs around 1.7 kg.
Where does the Buff-necked Ibis live?
The Buff-necked Ibis is found across South America with a range covering SA widespread, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Buff-necked Ibis belong to?
The Buff-necked Ibis (Theristicus caudatus) belongs to the Threskiornithidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Buff-necked Ibis eat?
The Buff-necked Ibis is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Buff-necked Ibis migrate?
The Buff-necked Ibis is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Buff-necked 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 Buff-necked Ibis make?
1 real field recording of the Buff-necked 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 Buff-necked Ibis's range?
The Buff-necked Ibis has a mapped global range of about 5.1 million 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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