Scarlet ibis - WikiHQ

The scarlet ibis, sometimes called red ibis (Eudocimus ruber), is a species of ibis in the bird family Threskiornithidae. It inhabits tropical South America and part of the Caribbean. In form, it resembles most of the other twenty-seven extant species of ibis, but its remarkably brilliant scarlet coloration makes it unmistakable. It is one of the two national birds of Trinidad and Tobago, and its Tupi–Guarani name, guará, is part of the name of several municipalities along the coast of Brazil.

This medium-sized wading bird is hardy, numerous, and prolific, and it has protected status around the world. Its IUCN status is Least Concern. The legitimacy of Eudocimus ruber as a biological classification, however, is in dispute. Traditional Linnaean taxonomy classifies it as a unique species, but some scientists have moved to reclassify it as a subspecies of a more general American ibis species, along with its close relative, the American white ibis (Eudocimus albus).

Taxonomy

The species was first classified by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Initially given the binomial nomenclature of Scolopax rubra

Biologically the scarlet ibis is very closely related to the American white ibis (Eudocimus albus) and is sometimes considered conspecific with it, leaving modern science divided over their taxonomy. The two birds each have exactly the same bones, claws, beaks, feather arrangements and other features – their one marked difference lies in their pigmentation. Traditional taxonomy has regarded the two as separate and distinct.

Some biologists now wish to pair them with Eudocimus albus as two subspecies of the same American ibis.

Description

left|thumb|An older juvenile with a touch of red

left|thumb|150px|Taxidermy specimen

thumb|Skull of a scarlet ibis

Adult plumage is virtually all scarlet. The feathers may show various tints and shades, but only the tips of their wings deviate from their namesake color. A small but reliable marking, these wingtips are a rich inky black (or occasionally dark blue) and are found only on the longest primaries – otherwise the birds' coloration is "a vivid orange-red, almost luminous in quality." Scarlet ibises have red bills and feet; however, the bill is sometimes blackish, especially toward the end. They have a long, narrow, decurved bill. Their legs and neck are long and extended in flight.

A juvenile scarlet ibis is a mix of grey, brown, and white. As it grows, a heavy diet of red crustaceans produces the scarlet coloration. The color change begins with the juvenile's second moult, around the time it begins to fly: the change starts on the back and spreads gradually across the body while increasing in intensity over a period of about two years. The life span of the scarlet ibis is approximately sixteen years in the wild and twenty years in captivity. An adult scarlet ibis has a wingspan of around . In recent years, bird colonies can be seen as far south as in the coastal areas of Joinville and the island of São Francisco do Sul.

The highest concentrations are found in the Llanos region of western Venezuela and eastern Colombia. The fertile and remote tropical grassland plain of the Llanos provides a safe haven far from human encroachment.

Scarlet ibis vagrants have been identified in Belize, Ecuador, and Panama; Aruba, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, and Jamaica; sightings have even been made in the United States. However, virtually all modern occurrences of the species in North America have been introduced or escaped birds. In one notable example from 1962, scarlet ibis eggs were placed in white ibis nests in Florida's Greynolds Park, and the resulting population hybridised easily, producing "pink ibises" that are still occasionally seen.

Behavior

Breeding

thumb|240px|right|Eudocimus ruber in a nest with baby birds at [[Busch Gardens Tampa. Video clip]]

Mating pairs build nests in a simple style, typically "loose platforms of sticks" They roost in leaf canopies, mostly preferring the convenient shelter of young waterside mangrove trees. Scarlet ibises like wet, muddy areas such as swamps, but for safety they build their nests in trees well above the water. If they can, they nest on islands, where their eggs and chicks are less likely to be in danger from predators.

To attract a female, the male will perform a variety of mating rituals such as "preening, shaking, bill popping, head rubbing, and high flights. As with most birds, mating does not involve any coupling or insertion: instead, a transfer of seminal fluids occurs during external contact between the cloacal openings. After a gestation period of five to six days, After a successful courtship, pairs remain faithful and cohabitant, sharing parental responsibilities for the young.

thumb|right|"While showering dignity and color on the scarlet ibis, nature seems to have been reluctant in the bestowal of weapons. The bird's beak was blunt, its toenails were unsharpened, and its eyes had a gentle, soft Bambi quality." <br /> – [[Paul A. Zahl|Dr. Paul A. Zahl, Coro-Coro ]]

They do, however, eat much shrimp and other similar fare like ragworms (Nereis), mollusks (such as Melampus), small crabs (Aratus, Uca and Ucides) and other crustaceans, such as crayfish. The large quantity of shrimp and other red shellfish produces a surfeit of astaxanthin, a carotenoid which is the key component of the birds' red pigmentation. Frogs, small snakes, small fish (Cichlidae), fruits and seeds are also occasional prey items for scarlet ibises. When kept in zoos, the birds' diet often contains beetroot and carrot supplement to maintain color vibrancy in their plumage.

The scarlet ibis is a sociable and gregarious bird, and very communally-minded regarding the search for food and the protection of the young. They live in flocks of thirty or more. Members stay close, and mating pairs arrange their nests in proximity to other pairs in the same tree.

Relationship with humans

The scarlet ibis and the rufous-vented chachalaca, popularly known as the cocrico, are the national birds of Trinidad and Tobago respectively. Both birds are featured on the coat of arms of Trinidad and Tobago. The cocrico is found on Tobago, Venezuela and Colombia.

An important local habitat for the scarlet ibis is the wildlife sanctuary of Caroni Swamp of Trinidad, a wetland reserve first designated in 1953 specifically to provide a habitat for the scarlet ibis.

Using the bird as a literary symbol, American author James Hurst composed a popular short story, "The Scarlet Ibis" (1960). The name also belongs to a book of verse by American poet Susan Hahn.

Eudocimus ruber 01 - Young bird.jpg|Juvenile

Scarlet Ibis SMTC.jpg|The wing tips are black.

Scarlet_ibis_(Eudocimus_ruber).jpg|Caroni Swamp, Trinidad

Scarlet_ibis_(Eudocimus_ruber)_roosting.jpg|Roosting, Caroni Swamp, Trinidad

File:Scarlet Ibis 2010.ogv|Video of a Scarlet ibis

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References

External links

Scarlet ibis photo gallery