Photo: Dario Niz / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Plumbeous Ibis
Theristicus caerulescens
Plumbeous Ibis (Theristicus caerulescens) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Plumbeous Ibis (Theristicus caerulescens) is a member of the Threskiornithidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 1.5 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 caerulescens
Where it lives
Northeastern Bolivia and southern Brazil to northeastern Argentina and Uruguay
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.5 kg
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Threskiornithidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Plumbeous Ibis is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Plumbeous Ibis is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Plumbeous Ibis (Theristicus caerulescens) is a member of the Threskiornithidae family, within the order Pelecaniformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA ne Bolivia and s Brazil to ne Argentina and Uruguay.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.5 kg, with a wing length of about 40.8 cm and a tail of around 16.1 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 1.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Plumbeous Ibis?
The Plumbeous Ibis is a very large bird that weighs around 1.5 kg.
Where does the Plumbeous Ibis live?
The Plumbeous Ibis is found across South America with a range covering SA ne Bolivia and s Brazil to ne Argentina and Uruguay, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Plumbeous Ibis belong to?
The Plumbeous Ibis (Theristicus caerulescens) belongs to the Threskiornithidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Plumbeous Ibis eat?
The Plumbeous Ibis is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Plumbeous Ibis migrate?
The Plumbeous Ibis is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Plumbeous 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 Plumbeous Ibis make?
1 real field recording of the Plumbeous 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 Plumbeous Ibis's range?
The Plumbeous Ibis has a mapped global range of about 1.7 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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