Appearance:
Males and females both have black head and tail feathers, a white body and long bill. They have long legs, wide feet, and their toes are spread apart. Females are often smaller than males.
Size:
Height: Up to 27 inches tall, wingspan up to 49 inches
Weight: 3 to 3.3 pounds; females are smaller than males.
Diet:
This omnivorous species eats insects, small crustaceans, organic material, and some small vertebrates.
Reproduction:
Ibis reach sexual maturity at 2 years of age. They breed during Madagascar’s rainy season (November and December).
Social Structure:
Colony breeders, ibis roost in large groups of up to 500 birds, though most groups consist of about 10 individuals.
Behavior:
Ibis are a social species, gathering in large colonies to roost, breed and build platform nests of twigs. These birds are diurnal, meaning they’re active during the day. They forage in flocks in brackish coastal areas like mudflats and estuaries, returning to the roost in the evening. They have a large array of vocalizations, including specific sounds for aggression, mating and communicating with their offspring.
Habitat/Range:
Ibis are only found along the west coast of Madagascar in lowland, brackish coastal areas (mudflats and estuaries). They’re occasionally found in inland rice fields and freshwater lakes.
Median Life Expectancy:
Approximately 10 years in the wild
Threats:
Ibis are limited to a small range, and they are threatened by loss of habitat.
