Photo: Frank Vassen(Grasmücke) / CC BY 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-faced Ibis
Theristicus melanopis
Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis) is a member of the Threskiornithidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 1.2 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 melanopis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.2 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Threskiornithidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-faced Ibis is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of farmland, parks and gardens, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Black-faced Ibis is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis) is a species of bird in the Threskiornithidae family, part of the order Pelecaniformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA sw Peru, w Chile and s Argentina.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.2 kg, with a wing length of about 38.2 cm and a tail of around 15.5 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 1.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-faced Ibis?
The Black-faced Ibis is a very large bird that weighs around 1.2 kg.
Where does the Black-faced Ibis live?
The Black-faced Ibis is found across South America with a range covering SA sw Peru, w Chile and s Argentina, where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the Black-faced Ibis belong to?
The Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis) belongs to the Threskiornithidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Black-faced Ibis eat?
The Black-faced Ibis is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Black-faced Ibis migrate?
The Black-faced Ibis is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Black-faced 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 Black-faced Ibis make?
1 real field recording of the Black-faced 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 Black-faced Ibis's range?
The Black-faced Ibis has a mapped global range of about 1.3 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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