North American field guide
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
Identification
Field notes
56-63 cm (22-25" ) Fairly common but local. Eastern North America, mostly along coasts. Fresh or salt marshes, mudflats.
Large all dark wader with a long curved bill; uniform dark chestnut with glossy purple or green; appears black at a distance. Told from White-faced Ibis by its brown eyes, lack of distinct white border around base of bill, and grayish-green legs with red joints.
Flies with neck extended, alternately flapping and gliding.
Song: a guttural "ka-onk".
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Glossy Ibis at Sterling Peat August 15, 2010
Credit: Bruce deGraafGlossy Ibis at the "Celery Fields" - (Plegadis Falcinellus)
Credit: Mark VanceWhere it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 2 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Glossy Ibis
2 rulesRule 1 12 criteria · confidence 4
- What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
- Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour were the WINGS ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Green · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Green · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Green · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Green · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Downcurved
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Crow-sized · Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Long-legged wader
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southeastern United States
Rule 2 12 criteria · confidence 1
- What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
- Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour were the WINGS ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Green · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Green · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Green · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Green · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Downcurved
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Crow-sized · Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Long-legged wader
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Northeastern Canada or United States