Facts and Features of Ibis Bird

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Ciconiiformes

Family: Threskiornithidae

Scientific Name: Threskiornithidae

Type: Bird

Diet: Omnivorous

Size (H): 50cm - 65cm (19.7in - 25in)

Spread: 80cm - 120cm (32in - 47in)

Weight: 0.3 kg - 2 kg (0.6 pounds - 4 pounds)

Life Period: 8-15 years

Lifestyle: Group

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Color: Black, White, Gray, Brown

Piel Type: Pens

Favorite food: Fish

Habitat: Marshes, swamps and wetlands

Normal clutch size: 2

Main Prey: fish, crabs, insects

Predators: hawks, herons,falcons

Distinguishing features: long beak and round body and neck

Ibis are a group of birds found worldwide,but is most common in temperate regions of the southern hemisphere . Ibis are best known for their long necks and beaks that help to collect food in the water .The Ibis are found inhabiting where large amounts of water is available.The ibis enjoys eating aquatic animals that prefer to be in areas such as swamps , marshes and wetlands where food is abundant .

Depending on the species there are about 30 different species of ibis found around the world , varying in size and color . The ibis may vary in size from small 5 cm high dwarf olive ibis to giant ibis that grow close to a meter high and inhabits in jungles of Cambodia and southern Laos parts.

Ibis in general is a sociable bird gather in large flocks to feed and find a partner during the mating season . Despite its relatively large size, many species of ibis takes rest on trees and not on the floor for security purpose.

Although the ibis is an omnivorous bird that feeds on plants and animals,but when there are plenty of aquatic species, ibis adopt to have carnivorous diet . Ibis kills fish , insects, small reptiles , frogs , small mammals and crabs , which the ibis collects from the mud using their long, pointed beak.

Due to the relatively large size,it  has few natural predators , as well as large predators that often steal the ibis eggs ,or young ones.Snakes are known to eat the ibis around the  world ,and also wild cats and foxes eats the Ibis.

During the mating season , the ibis female builds a nest in the tree that is made of sticks and reeds. Ibis makes nest near a river or a lake, with other water birds such as herons .

The ibis female lays up to 3 eggs that hatch after the incubation period of a few weeks. Ibis chicks are dependent on their mother for food and quickly develop which means that leave the nest when they are about 6 weeks old .