Scarlet Ibis

Eudocimus ruber

About the Scarlet Ibis

Geographic Range:

Class: Aves
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Threskiornithidae
Genus: Eudocimus
Species: ruber

The scarlet ibis is a striking tropical bird that is completely red except for its black wingtips. Its coloring, which intensifies as the bird ages, is the result of a diet heavy on crustaceans, which it plucks from mud and water with its long, curved bill. The scarlet ibis is a social bird, living in large flocks in the same general area for most of its life. Males attract their mates with a number of displays, including songs and dances.

Scarlet Ibis Facts

Appearance:

The scarlet ibis is a tropical bird whose wings are completely scarlet except for its black tips. Their coloring comes from the crustaceans they eat, and the color intensifies as they grow older. These birds have long necks and legs, and their beak is long and curved. Guided by touch, they use their beaks to probe mud and water for food. Their feet are perched and slightly webbed.

Size:

Length: 22 – 30 inches
Wingspan: 12 inches
Weight: 1.5 – 3 pounds

Diet:

Crustaceans, mollusks, fish, insects, frogs and small snakes.

Reproduction:

These birds reach sexual maturity at 4 to 5 years of age. The male ibis uses a number of displays, including songs and dances, in order to attract his mate. After finding his mate, the birds build a nest together using loose sticks. They lay three to five green eggs and incubate them from 19 to 23 days. Both parents incubate the eggs and care for the young. Chicks fledge after 39 to 45 days.

Behavior:

Ibis live in large flocks and tend to live in the same general area for most of their lives. Breeding colonies can include thousands of birds. Having a dense population helps these birds keep watch for predators and provide "safety-in-numbers" for both birds and their eggs and hatchlings.

Habitat/range:

Found throughout northern South America, from Venezuela to eastern Brazil. Their preferred habitat is mud flats, estuaries, shorelines and shallow bays.

Median Life Span:

Up to 20 years in the wild

Threats:

Tree-climbing or tree-dwelling predators (cats, monkeys, raptors) can predate ibis eggs and young. Water-dwelling predators (caimans, turtles, snakes) pose dangers to the wading adults. The creation of a road through the Caroni Swamp in Trinidad disrupted scarlet ibis breeding for many years, though populations have started nesting there again.

Fun Facts:

The scarlet ibis is the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago.
This is an ancient bird whose fossils date back to 60 million years ago.

You Can Find This Animal in the Caribbean Coast

Committed to Conservation

Zoo New England participates in the scarlet ibis Species Survival Plan. By sharing research and knowledge, participating institutions work together to establish guidelines that best ensure the health of captive populations, and with success, the survival of endangered species.

You are what you eat!

Scarlet ibis get their vibrant color from their diet. The algae and small crustaceans they eat provide the pigment for their bright coloring.

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Stone Zoo