Photo: Dan Pancamo / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-faced Ibis
Plegadis chihi
White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) is a member of the Threskiornithidae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Adults weigh 617 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 chihi
Where it lives
Central USA to central Argentina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 617 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Threskiornithidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-faced Ibis hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The White-faced Ibis is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) belongs to the Threskiornithidae family of the order Pelecaniformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA c USA to c Argentina.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 617 g, with a wing length of about 24.7 cm and a tail of around 9.6 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 5.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-faced Ibis?
The White-faced Ibis is a large bird that weighs around 617 g.
Where does the White-faced Ibis live?
The White-faced Ibis is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA c USA to c Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the White-faced Ibis belong to?
The White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) belongs to the Threskiornithidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the White-faced Ibis eat?
The White-faced Ibis hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the White-faced Ibis migrate?
The White-faced Ibis is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the White-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 White-faced Ibis make?
1 real field recording of the White-faced Ibis — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-faced Ibis's range?
The White-faced Ibis has a mapped global range of about 5.3 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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