Birds Guide

Ibises
Straw-necked Ibis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Threskiornithidae Subfamily: Threskiornithinae Poche, 1904
Genera
Threskiornis Pseudibis Thaumatibis Geronticus Nipponia Bostrychia Theristicus Cercibis Mesembrinibis Phimosus Eudocimus Plegadis Lophotibis

Ibises are a group of long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae. They all have long downcurved bills, and usually feed as a group, probing mud for food items, usually crustaceans. Most species nest in trees, often with spoonbills or herons.

According to folklore, the ibis is the last form of wildlife to take shelter prior to a hurricane and the first to reappear after the storm passes. The ibis was also an object of religious veneration in ancient Egypt, particularly associated with the god, Thoth.

The name ibis comes from Greek borrowed from Ancient Egyptian hîb.

The ibis has gained notoriety in American collegiate football, where an ibis named Sebastian the Ibis is the official mascot of the University of Miami, one of the most successful collegiate football program of the past 25 years.

The ibis family is one of the families in the order Ciconiiformes, which also includes other wading bird families:

Species

• Genus Threskiornis
  • Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus
    Madagascar Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis bernieri
    Réunion Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis solitarius extinct
    Black-headed Ibis, Threskiornis melanocephalus
    Australian White Ibis, Threskiornis molucca
    Straw-necked Ibis, Threskiornis spinicollis
• Genus Pseudibis
  • Indian Black Ibis, Pseudibis papillosa
    White-shouldered Ibis, Pseudibis davisoni
• Genus Thaumatibis
  • Giant Ibis, Thaumatibis gigantea
• Genus Geronticus
  • Northern Bald Ibis, Geronticus eremita
    Southern Bald Ibis, Geronticus calvus
• Genus Nipponia
  • Japanese Crested Ibis, Nipponia nippon
• Genus Bostrychia
  • Olive Ibis, Bostrychia olivacea
    Dwarf Olive Ibis, Bostrychia bocagei
    Spot-breasted Ibis, Bostrychia rara
    Hadada Ibis, Bostrychia hagedash
    Wattled Ibis, Bostrychia carunculata
• Genus Theristicus
  • Plumbeous Ibis, Theristicus caerulescens
    Buff-necked Ibis, Theristicus caudatus
    Andean Ibis, Theristicus branickii
    Black-faced Ibis, Theristicus melanopis
• Genus Cercibis
  • Sharp-tailed Ibis, Cercibis oxycerca
• Genus Mesembrinibis
  • Green Ibis, Mesembrinibis cayennensis
• Genus Phimosus
  • Whispering Ibis, Phimosus infuscatus
• Genus Eudocimus
  • American White Ibis, Eudocimus albus
    Scarlet Ibis, Eudocimus ruber
• Genus Plegadis
  • Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
    White-faced Ibis, Plegadis chihi
    Puna Ibis, Plegadis ridgwayi
• Genus Lophotibis
  • Madagascar Crested Ibis, Lophotibis cristata

Sacred Ibis

Australian White Ibis

American White Ibis

Scarlet Ibis

Young Scarlet Ibis behind a fence

External links

• Ibis videos on the Internet Bird Collection