Plegadis ridgwayi
The Puna Ibis, *Plegadis ridgwayi*, is a striking medium-sized wading bird endemic to the high-altitude wetlands of the Andes. Measuring 46-56 cm (18-22 in) in length, its plumage is a beautiful, glossy iridescent bronze-green, often appearing dark purplish-chestnut in certain lights, contrasting with its long, decurved, dark bill and dark legs. A key identification feature during breeding is the bare, black facial skin often edged with a fine blue line around the eye, distinguishing it from ...
Primarily inhabits high-altitude wetlands, bogs, marshes, wet grasslands, and shores of lakes and lagoons in the Andean puna zone. Typically found at elevations between 3,500 and 5,000 meters (11,500-16,400 feet).
Feeds predominantly on aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, including insect larvae, worms, leeches, and small crustaceans. Forages by probing soft substrates with its specialized bill.
Puna Ibises are highly gregarious birds, often foraging and roosting in large, sometimes mixed-species, flocks throughout the day. Their foraging strategy involves wading in shallow water or probing soft mud with their long, decurved bills to extract invertebrates. While typically diurnal, they g...
The Puna Ibis is an Andean endemic, with its primary distribution stretching across the high plateaus and wetlands of southern Peru, western Bolivia, northern Chile, and extreme northwestern Argentina. Its range is strongly tied to the puna and altiplano ecological zones, where it is found almost...
Least Concern
- The Puna Ibis is the only ibis species primarily restricted to the high-altitude Andes, often found above 3,500 meters (11,500 feet). - Its iridescent plumage can shift dramatically from bronze-green to purplish-chestnut depending on the light, often appearing almost black from a distance. - Un...