Straw-necked Ibis

Description:

The Straw-necked Ibis is a bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. It can be found throughout Australia, PNG, and parts of Indonesia. Adults have distinctive straw-like feathers on their neck. I was amazed to see the iridescent colours as the sun shone on its feathers. People often say that ibis are ugly birds, but I disagree. They are quite lovely, particularly when seen in the right light. The fact that you see their heads poking into / out of dumpsters just means they have character. They are naughty, and that always gives me a secret chuckle.

Habitat:

They prefer freshwater wetlands, and swamp and lagoon margins, rather than coastal saltwater areas. They also gather in groups to scour grasslands and pastures for food. This lovely fellow was spotted by the pond at the Mt. Coot-tha Botanical Gardens in Brisbane QLD.