(Credit: U. S. Geological Survey)

Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus

Identification Tips:

  1. Length: 19 inches Wingspan: 37 inches
  2. Sexes similar
  3. Medium-sized long-legged long-necked wader
  4. Bill long, dark gray, and decurved
  5. Dark brown eye
  6. Holds neck extended in flight

Adult alternate:

  1. Bare facial skin at lores is blue-gray
  2. Bare facial skin bordered partially with a white or pale blue band that is of varying width and does not encircle the back of the eye
  3. Legs gray to dull red
  4. Head, neck, back and belly an iridescent purple-red, appearing entirely dark or black at a distance or in poor light
  5. Iridescent green wings and tail

Adult basic:

  1. Gray facial skin
  2. Border to bare facial skin still present but dull gray
  3. Gray-green legs
  4. Head, neck, back and belly a duller gray-brown without iridescence
  5. Head and neck streaked with white

Immature:

  1. Dull gray brown head, neck, back and belly sometimes with white streaking
  2. Facial skin dull blue-gray, develops dull gray border during first autumn
  3. Gray-green legs

Similar species:

Curlews also have long decurved bills but are much smaller, brown above and white below, not black and iridescent. Immature White Ibis has a white belly. The White-faced Ibis is very similar in all plumages. Adult White-faced Ibis has a red, not brown, eye. In alternate plumage the White-faced Ibis has an even white band around the bare red facial skin and has redder legs. Immatures are extremely similar.