Other Names: Black Curlew
Scientific Name: Plegadis falcinellus
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Body Length: 48–61 cm
Weight: 485–580 g
Incubation: 25 days
Number of eggs: 3–6
Distribution: Australia, central and North America, Africa, southern Eurasia and New Guinea
Habitat: Wetlands, lakes and floodplains
Description: The Glossy Ibis has an olive-brown bill, reddish-brown body; brown eyes, legs and feet; and iridescent back and wings that appear black from a distance.
Diet: The Glossy Ibis is a carnivore and eats frogs, snails and aquatic insects. It uses its curved bill to dig through mud and collect prey.
Breeding: The Glossy Ibis breeds from early spring to mid-autumn. It builds its nest on/next to shallow water. Both parents care for the young.
Threats: Being a wetland bird, destruction of wetlands is a threat to the Glossy Ibis.
At Perth Zoo: You can see Glossy Ibis in the Australian Wetlands.
Did You Know? During mating season, the Glossy Ibis’s plumage colour intensifies to chestnut, purple-green and blue.
Download the Glossy Ibis Fact Sheet (pdf).
