Merced National Wildlife Refuge, California
Credit: Chuq Von Rospach

North American field guide

White-faced Ibis

Plegadis chihi

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

58 cm (23") Fairly common west of Mississippi. Marshes; prefers freshwater.

Large all dark wader with long downcurved bill. Chestnut head and neck but appears black at a distance. Similar to eastern Glossy Ibis but in summer White-faced has all-red legs, red eyes, reddish bill and a distinctive white border around its red facial skin at base of bill. In winter it looks exactly like Glossy.

Flies with neck extended, alternately flapping and gliding.

Song: grunting.

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Approximate reconstruction of a historical map. Source date unknown.

Geography: Natural Earth
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.

White-faced Ibis

2 rules
Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 4
What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · 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 ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · 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 ?
Red, orange or rusty · 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 ?
Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States
result:351-white-faced-ibis:1:1 Source: 351 White-faced Ibis, row 1
Rule 2 12 criteria confidence 1
What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · 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 ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · 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 ?
Red, orange or rusty · 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 · Southeastern United States
result:351-white-faced-ibis:2:1 Source: 351 White-faced Ibis, row 2