IBISES AND SPOONBILLS   -   THRESKIORNITHIDAE

Scarlet Ibis Eudocimus ruber Finca Vuelta Larga, Guaraunos, Sucre state, Venezuela. Over fifty in a roost tree in late afternoon, and more were still arriving when we left. They were sharing their tree with Great Egret, Neotropic Cormorant, and Tricolored Heron.

White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi Quinta, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. This individual is not in breeding plumage, so it lacks the white lines on the face. It's a monotypic species despite having a very disjunct range, in North American and in South America south of the Amazon basin.

Green Ibis Mesembrinibis cayennensis Transpantanal Highway, Mato Grosso state, Brazil. In the Pantanal, this species is regularly seen in the open in the middle of the day. For this photo, as an example, I was so close to it that I could not fit it in the frame! However, it also occurs throughout the Amazonian region, where its habits are decidedly different, being very shy, hard to observe, and mostly crepuscular and nocturnal. Very odd!

Bare-faced Ibis Phimosus infuscatus infuscatus Taim Biological Reserve, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.

Plumbeous Ibis Theristicus caerulescens Transpantanal Highway, Mato Grosso state, Brazil. A cool looking ibis of wetlands in southeastern South America. The white stripe on the forehead combined with the red eye and shaggy mane give it a very distinct appearance.

Buff-necked Ibis Theristicus caudatus hyperorius Fields near São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.

Black-faced (Andean) Ibis Theristicus melanopis branickii Antisana reserve, Napo province, Ecuador. This subspecies is split by some authorities. It occurs at very high elevations, and lacks the black wattle of the nominate race, which occurs at low elevations in far southern South America.

Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja Carara NP, Puntarenas province, Costa Rica.

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