IBISES AND SPOONBILLS   -   THRESKIORNITHIDAE


White Ibis - Eudocimus albus
White Ibis
Eudocimus albus
Tárcoles, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica.
(S6)


Scarlet Ibis - Eudocimus ruber
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. (D3)


White-faced Ibis - Plegadis chihi
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. (D4)


White-faced Ibis - Plegadis chihi
White-faced Ibis
Plegadis chihi
Pousada Piuval, Pantanal, Mato Grosso state, Brazil.
This species is inexplicably scarce in the northern Pantanal - this was the only time I had ever seen one there after 5 visits. Like the bird in the previous photo, also in non-breeding plumage. (S5)


Puna Ibis - Plegadis ridgwayi
Puna Ibis
Plegadis ridgwayi
Lauca National Park, Region I, Chile.
(S5)


Green Ibis - Mesembrinibis cayennensis
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! (D2)


Bare-faced Ibis - Phimosus infuscatus
Bare-faced Ibis
Phimosus infuscatus infuscatus
Taim Biological Reserve, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.
(D4)


Bare-faced Ibis - Phimosus infuscatus
Bare-faced Ibis
Phimosus infuscatus ssp?
Pousada Piuval, Pantanal, Mato Grosso state, Brazil.
(S5)


Plumbeous Ibis - Theristicus caerulescens
Plumbeous Ibis
Theristicus caerulescens
Pousada Piuval, Pantanal, 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. (S5)


Plumbeous Ibis - Theristicus caerulescens
Plumbeous Ibis
Theristicus caerulescens
Transpantanal Highway, Mato Grosso state, Brazil.
(D2)


Buff-necked Ibis - Theristicus caudatus
Buff-necked Ibis
Theristicus caudatus hyperorius
Fields near São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.
(D4)


Black-faced Ibis - Theristicus melanopis
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. (D3)


Roseate Spoonbill - Platalea ajaja
Roseate Spoonbill
Platalea ajaja
Tárcoles, Puntarenas province, Costa Rica.
(S5)


Roseate Spoonbill - Platalea ajaja
Roseate Spoonbill
Platalea ajaja
Tárcoles, Puntarenas province, Costa Rica.
(S5)


Roseate Spoonbill - Platalea ajaja
Roseate Spoonbill
Platalea ajaja
Tárcoles, Puntarenas province, Costa Rica.
(S5)













Website design and all photos copyright Nick Athanas
For questions, comments, or photograph licensing info, please email