Plegadis chihi
SUBFAMILY
Threskiornithinae
TAXONOMY
Numenius chihi Viellot, 1817, Paraguay. Monotypic.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: White-faced ibis; French: Ibis а face blanche; German:
Brillensichler; Spanish: Morito Cariblanco.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
17–25.5 in (43–65 cm); 1.3 lb (610 g). Deep chestnut plumage
with metallic green and purple gloss on back, wings, head, and
neck. A border of white feather surrounds the pinkish to red
facial skin. Legs are reddish.
DISTRIBUTION
The range forms a broad band across South America, reaching
as far north as southern Peru and Brazil and south to include
the northern thirds of Chile and Argentina. The range is
markedly discontinuous, with the bird being absent north of
this band until it reappears in central and western Mexico,
northern California, and a large area of the midwestern and
western United States, plus the western half of the United
States Gulf coast.
HABITAT
Inhabits wetlands and all types of agricultural land. Congregates
around streams, creek beds, lakes, and other water sources.
BEHAVIOR
Some populations migrate, moving between breeding and wintering
grounds, but others, especially those in the southern
part of the range, stay in one place throughout the year.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feeds in the shallows of lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, and wetlands.
Also forages in rice and alfalfa fields when flooded.
Takes fish and various other small aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates.
In some areas, earthworms collected in irrigated
fields are a dietary staple.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Nests can be found in swamps, marshes, bushes, or trees, especially
on vegetated islands. Nests built on the ground are usually
woven from dry reeds, while those in trees are built of
sticks and twigs. Clutch size is three or four eggs, with an incubation
period of about three weeks.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Some local populations are threatened, mainly by habitat destruction.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.
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