Eudocimus albus
The American White Ibis, *Eudocimus albus*, is a striking medium-sized wading bird instantly recognizable by its immaculate white plumage, bold red facial skin, and long, decurved, coral-red bill tipped with black. Adults typically measure 56-71 cm (22-28 inches) in length with a wingspan of 90-105 cm (35-41 inches), and weigh around 700-1,000 grams (1.5-2.2 lbs). Juvenile birds present a mottled brown and white appearance, gradually transitioning to all white over their first two years. This...
Primarily found in coastal and estuarine environments, the American White Ibis thrives in brackish and freshwater wetlands, including salt marshes, mangrove swamps, mudflats, and flooded pastures, generally at low elevations near sea level.
The diet of the American White Ibis consists primarily of crustaceans, such as crayfish, fiddler crabs, and prawns, supplemented with small fish, frogs, insects, and other aquatic invertebrates, all located by tactile probing in shallow water.
American White Ibises are highly social, diurnal birds, typically foraging in small to very large flocks and roosting communally in trees or shrubs at night. Their primary foraging strategy involves tactile probing: they wade through shallow water, submerging their long, decurved bills into soft ...
The American White Ibis has a broad distribution spanning across the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, and coastal regions of Central and northern South America. Its primary breeding range in the U.S. extends along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from North Carolina south through Florida an...
Least Concern
- Juvenile American White Ibises are a mottled brown and white, a stark contrast to the pure white adults, leading to frequent misidentification by novice birders. - The vibrant coral-red coloration of their bill, legs, and facial skin intensifies significantly during the breeding season, fueled ...