BJ's Birding Lessons - Part 7 - Ibises
Jun. 14th, 2009 07:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gemfyreThere are three species of ibis that can be seen in the Perth metro area. One is VERY common and familiar, the other is slightly less common, and one is considered rare in Perth, although there is one place where you can reliably see a lot of them. Ibises are wading birds closely related to egrets and spoonbills and can be identified by their downcurved beaks. In Ancient Egypt ibises were regarded as gods.
Australian White Ibis - Theskiornis molucca
Photo by Julien of Birdforum
A lot of people refer to this is ibis as the Sacred Ibis. This is because it was considered a sub-species of the African Sacred Ibis. Later research has discovered it is a species in it's own right. This ibis is also known as the "Bin Bird" due to it's habit of raiding rubbish bins. Historically the Australian White Ibis was not common in urban areas, but it has become increasingly common as we continue to drain the wetlands that are their native home. They are usually found on grassed areas and urban wetlands.
So, what differentiates an Australian White Ibis?
- Black, bare-skinned head and upper neck.
- Mostly white plumage.
- Black tail plumes and wingtips.
- A strip of bare skin on the underside of the wing (shown beautifully in this photo - this is a bird in breeding condition, the skin is a particularly deep shade of pink).
- A tendency to hang around people and steal scraps.
On some local lakes, this ibis has pushed out nesting cormorants to start their own colonies (Lake Booragoon is a prime example).
Straw-necked Ibis - Theskiornis spinicollis
Photo by tcollins of Birdforum
The Straw-necked Ibis is not quite as common as the Australian White Ibis and seems to be more seasonal (you will see a lot at some times of the year - right now is a good time - and at other times of the year they will disappear). They also hang around on grassed areas and you tend to see a lot in cattle and sheep fields in the country. The Straw-neck looks a lot like the Aussie White Ibis except for one big difference -
- A fully black back and wings. The black is irridescent in the light and shines shades of purple and green.
- This ibis also has yellow "straw-like" feathers at the bottom of it's neck in the breeding season.
Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus
Photo by steven(sa) of Birdforum
The Glossy Ibis is the most widespread of all the ibis species being found in most places around the world. Despite this, they are actually relatively rare in the Perth metro area - except for one place. If you go to Maurice Hamer Park on the southern side of Herdsman Lake you will almost definitely see 20 to 50 of these guys loafing on the water's edge or feeding in the grass with the coots. Another Lake where they are often seen is Lake Joondalup. The Glossy Ibis cannot be mistaken for the other two ibises in Perth.
- Smaller in size and more delicate in stature.
- Glossy brown-purple-green plumage over the whole body.
- Feathered head.
I feel like I should write a conclusion here. But I can't think of anything to say! Keep an eye out for Ibis, and if someone says, "Oh, that's a Sacred Ibis." you can now explain why they are now "Australian White Ibis" (which is a pretentious mouthful!)
Australian White Ibis - Theskiornis molucca
Photo by Julien of Birdforum
A lot of people refer to this is ibis as the Sacred Ibis. This is because it was considered a sub-species of the African Sacred Ibis. Later research has discovered it is a species in it's own right. This ibis is also known as the "Bin Bird" due to it's habit of raiding rubbish bins. Historically the Australian White Ibis was not common in urban areas, but it has become increasingly common as we continue to drain the wetlands that are their native home. They are usually found on grassed areas and urban wetlands.
So, what differentiates an Australian White Ibis?
- Black, bare-skinned head and upper neck.
- Mostly white plumage.
- Black tail plumes and wingtips.
- A strip of bare skin on the underside of the wing (shown beautifully in this photo - this is a bird in breeding condition, the skin is a particularly deep shade of pink).
- A tendency to hang around people and steal scraps.
On some local lakes, this ibis has pushed out nesting cormorants to start their own colonies (Lake Booragoon is a prime example).
Straw-necked Ibis - Theskiornis spinicollis
Photo by tcollins of Birdforum
The Straw-necked Ibis is not quite as common as the Australian White Ibis and seems to be more seasonal (you will see a lot at some times of the year - right now is a good time - and at other times of the year they will disappear). They also hang around on grassed areas and you tend to see a lot in cattle and sheep fields in the country. The Straw-neck looks a lot like the Aussie White Ibis except for one big difference -
- A fully black back and wings. The black is irridescent in the light and shines shades of purple and green.
- This ibis also has yellow "straw-like" feathers at the bottom of it's neck in the breeding season.
Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus
Photo by steven(sa) of Birdforum
The Glossy Ibis is the most widespread of all the ibis species being found in most places around the world. Despite this, they are actually relatively rare in the Perth metro area - except for one place. If you go to Maurice Hamer Park on the southern side of Herdsman Lake you will almost definitely see 20 to 50 of these guys loafing on the water's edge or feeding in the grass with the coots. Another Lake where they are often seen is Lake Joondalup. The Glossy Ibis cannot be mistaken for the other two ibises in Perth.
- Smaller in size and more delicate in stature.
- Glossy brown-purple-green plumage over the whole body.
- Feathered head.
I feel like I should write a conclusion here. But I can't think of anything to say! Keep an eye out for Ibis, and if someone says, "Oh, that's a Sacred Ibis." you can now explain why they are now "Australian White Ibis" (which is a pretentious mouthful!)
