Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of Worldwide.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a member of the Threskiornithidae family found in Africa, Australia & Oceania and Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 627 g. 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 Plegadis
- Species falcinellus
Where it lives
Worldwide but disjunctly southern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, central, southern Asia to Philippines, Sulawesi, Java and Australia; also eastern and Gulf coasts of N America, Caribbean and northern Venezuela
Quick facts
- Weight
- 627 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Threskiornithidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Glossy Ibis hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Glossy Ibis is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a member of the Threskiornithidae family, within the order Pelecaniformes. It is found across Africa, Australia & Oceania and Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers Worldwide but disjunctly s Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, c, s Asia to Philippines, Sulawesi, Java and Australia; also e and Gulf coasts of N America, Caribbean and n Venezuela.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 627 g, with a wing length of about 27.5 cm and a tail of around 10.3 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 23.7 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Glossy Ibis?
The Glossy Ibis is a large bird that weighs around 627 g.
Where does the Glossy Ibis live?
The Glossy Ibis is found across Africa, Australia & Oceania and Central America & Caribbean with a range covering Worldwide but disjunctly s Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, c, s Asia to Philippines, Sulawesi, Java and Australia; also e and Gulf coasts of N America, Caribbean and n Venezuela, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Glossy Ibis belong to?
The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) belongs to the Threskiornithidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Glossy Ibis eat?
The Glossy Ibis hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Glossy Ibis migrate?
The Glossy Ibis is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Glossy 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 Glossy Ibis make?
1 real field recording of the Glossy 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 Glossy Ibis's range?
The Glossy Ibis has a mapped global range of about 23.7 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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