White-faced ibis

The white-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi) is a wading bird in the ibis family, Threskiornithidae.

This species breeds colonially in marshes, usually nesting in bushes or low trees. Its breeding range extends from southwestern Canada and the western United States south through Mexico, as well as from southeastern Brazil and southeastern Bolivia south to central Argentina, and along the coast of central Chile. Its winter range extends from southern California and Louisiana south to include the rest of its breeding range.

Description

In its non-breeding plumage, the white-faced ibis is very similar to the glossy ibis except that it tends to be slightly smaller and its plumage has a somewhat warmer color. Breeding adults have a pink, bare face bordered with white feathers (rather than a bluish bare face with no bordering feathers), a grey bill, and brighter-colored, redder legs. Adults have red eyes year-round, whereas glossy ibises have dark eyes. Juveniles of the two species are nearly identical.

Measurements:

Length: 18.1-22.1 in (46-56 cm)
Weight: 15.9-18.5 oz (450-525 g)
Wingspan: 35.4-36.6 in (90-93 cm)

White-faced Ibis by Dan Pancamo.jpg|Winter plumage in Quintana, Texas

White-faced Ibis.jpg|Non-breeding plumage

White-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi) immature in flight composite.jpg|Juvenile<br />The Pantanal, Brazil

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Distribution

The white-faced ibis occurs in Canada, the United States, and Central America, and a second subspecies inhabits the southern half of South America, east of the Andes Mountains. For example, breeders in northern California and southern Oregon move to wintering areas in southern California and México or Central America. Some birds breeding in Yellowstone in Wyoming will overwinter in areas such as Texas and coastal Gulf of Mexico regions.

thumb|A flock of White-faced Ibis take flight.

Origin

The white-faced ibis bears a strong resemblance to the related glossy ibis, and in the past was sometimes considered to be a subspecies of the glossy ibis. Another theory was that a small population of glossy ibis dispersed to the Americas, which became isolated and evolved into a separate species. However, recent molecular phylogenetic studies show that the white-faced ibis may actually be paraphyletic. In fact, members of the white-faced ibis populations in the United States appear to be more closely related to glossy ibises than to members of white-faced ibis populations in Southern Brazil. Its feeding style is to use its bill to probe for prey.

thumb|A White-faced Ibis in flight.

Breeding and nesting

thumb|Juvenile feeding

thumb|thumbtime=72|[[Plegadis chihi|white-faced ibis in the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, California]]

This species breeds colonially in marshes, usually nesting in bushes or low trees. Its breeding range extends from the western United States south through Mexico, as well as from southeastern Brazil and southeastern Bolivia south to central Argentina, and along the coast of central Chile. Its winter range extends from southern California and Louisiana south to include the rest of its breeding range.

The white-faced ibis chooses to nest in the parts of a marsh with dense vegetation It will then build a nest from reeds. The white-faced ibis usually lays three or four blue-green eggs at a time. Yet, there is still some debate whether populations of white-faced ibises in all geographic areas are recovered and growing.