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Glossy IbisAlternate name(s): Misnomer: "Black Curlew" Size: 48-66 cm; wing span: 80-105 cm Weight: 485-970 g |
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See Glossy
Ibis at Wikipedia |
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Photos |
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
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BREEDING |
Frontal view of a Glossy Ibises in breeding
plumage
walking towards the observer
(photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Tiger Bay Wetlands, Warren, NSW, October 2017]
Near-lateral view of a Glossy Ibis in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Black Duck Reserve, Murrumba Downs, QLD, September 2017]
Lateral view of a Glossy Ibis in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Black Duck Reserve, Murrumba Downs, QLD, September 2017]
Lateral view of a Glossy Ibis in breeding
plumage;
this comparison with
Grey Teals
shows clearly that Glossy Ibises are in essence duck-sized
birds with a long bill, neck and legs
[Near Urunga, NSW, March 2015]
Lateral view of a preening Glossy Ibis
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2020]
Lateral view of a moulting Glossy Ibis, making it look like
a "Bald-necked Ibis"
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lake Cullen, VIC, November 2018]
Lateral view of a Glossy Ibis in breeding
plumage
with its bill wide open
[40 km S of Mungindi, NSW, January 2023]
Near-dorsal view of a Glossy Ibis in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Black Duck Reserve, Murrumba Downs, QLD, September 2017]
Dorsal view of a Glossy Ibis in breeding
plumage
[40 km S of Mungindi, NSW, January 2023]
Direct comparison of a Glossy Ibis with
Australian White Ibises
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2017]
Lateral/ventral view of a Glossy Ibis in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2012]
Dorsal view of a Glossy Ibis in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2012]
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NON-BREEDING |
Frontal view of a Glossy Ibis in non-breeding
plumage
(note the streaking on the head)
[Near Urunga, NSW, March 2015]
Close-up lateral view of a Glossy Ibis in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Knuckey Lagoon, Darwin, NT, November 2018]
Close-up lateral view of two Glossy Ibises in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2015]
Close-up lateral view of Glossy Ibises foraging on
grassland
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2015]
Lateral view of a Glossy Ibis in brilliant sunshine
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
Near-dorsal view of Glossy Ibises
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Road Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, November 2018]
Dorsal view of two resting Glossy Ibises in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, April 2021]
Comparison of a Glossy Ibis with an
Australian (Purple) Swamphen
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2015]
Comparison of a Glossy Ibis with two
Radjah Shelducks
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[McMinns Lagoon, near Darwin, NT, September 2018]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Group of 5 Glossy Ibises comprising 3 adults (brown heads) and
2 juvenile birds (grey heads; second and third from the right)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2016]
Glossy Ibises banking to land; adult in breeding
plumage, front left,
and juvenile, back right
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2016]
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Additional information |
More photos of Glossy Ibises were obtained by us in Oman.
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: ? | Mobility: Dispersive | Elementary unit: Family clan/flock |
Glossy Ibises usually appear in small numbers, with only moderate flock sizes. Like many migratory/dispersive bird species, Glossy Ibises know how to reduce air resistance by flying in chevron formations.
Small flock of Glossy Ibises
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, May 2023]
Part of a small flock of Glossy Ibises
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, May 2023]
Small flock of Glossy Ibises in breeding
plumage
with juveniles
(photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Tiger Bay Wetlands, Warren, NSW, October 2017]
Part of a small flock of Glossy Ibises in flight
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, May 2023]
Skein of Glossy Ibises in flight in a chevron formation
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2015]
Skein of Glossy Ibises in flight in a chevron formation
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2015]
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Food, Diet |
Ibises feed on small animals, from insects to leeches, moluscs, mussles and crustaceans, that they pull out of mud or soft soil.
Adult Glossy Ibis (left) and two immature birds feeding in shallow water;
this photo allows a size comparison with an Australian White Ibis
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2012]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
We will try to replace this poor recording with a better one as soon as possible.
glibis_20161221.mp3 | (N NSW) |
Warning/departure (partial recording) |
© MD |
More Glossy Ibis sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.