April 17, 2011 - Ibis

One of the most numerous wading birds in Florida is the White Ibis. They occur along the southern Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Coasts. With its white plumage and reddish bill and legs, this medium-sized species (21-27”) is easily identified. This photo was taken at Corkscrew Swamp in Florida. Look at the size of those feet!

IbisWhiteCorkscrewSwamp20110125

White Ibis use their long, decurved bills to probe around in the shallow water, as the bird in the background is doing. When they contact a food item, the bill snaps shut. The bird in the foreground just caught a crab of some kind.

IbisWhiteDingDarlingNWRSanibelIsland20110124

This Ibis snared a small fish.

IbisWhitefoodDingDarlingNWRSanibelIsland20110127

Ibis fly with their neck and legs stretched out. When resting, these birds appear to have all-white plumage. But, when you see them in flight, their black wing tips are visible.

IbisWhiteflightDingDarlingNWRSanibelIsland20110124

This is a juvenile White Ibis. They start out with mostly brown feathers and during their second year they gradually molt into the all-white plumage of an adult.

IbisWhitejuvDingDarlingNWRSanibelIsland20110127

I did see one Glossy Ibis at St. Mark’s NWR in Florida. Their size, body shape, and habits are similar to the White Ibis but they have dark feathers instead of white ones.

IbisGlossyMarksNWR20110206