White Ibis

Description:

Eudocimus albus, the white ibis, is a member of the Order Ciconiiformes (herons and storks). It is a long necked wading bird in which the sexes are similar in appearance. Major identifying characteristics include its long decurved bill, longer in males than in females; entirely white body coloration, pink bill, and legs, black tipped outer primary feathers, and distinctive bare face which ranges in shades from red to pink. The eyes of adults are blue.

Habitat:

Barriers, marshes, spoil islands on the coast, and islands in inland lakes are the preferred nesting sites for the White Ibis. These sites are in interior and coastal wetlands, in environments ranging from southeastern mixed forest to outer coastal plain forest, savanna, prairie parkland, and prairie bushland. Feeding habitats include sedge marshes, cypress swamps, salt marshes, and mangrove swamps.