I've seen them in India - not sure if I have any photos though.
The Zoochat Photographic Guide To The Pelecaniformes
- Thread starter Sarus Crane
- Start date
Thaumatibis
Giant Ibis (Thaumatibis gigantea)
This is the largest species of ibis. Adults stand 3 feet tall and weigh 9 lbs. It has a dark brown colored body with a large silver patch on the wings that is streaked with brown markings. The legs are colored pinkish-red and the head as well as half of the neck are featherless with dark stripe-like markings lining the nape. For many of the same reasons as the White-Shouldered Ibis this species is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Its population stronghold is in Cambodia at Tmat Boey in Preah Vihear Province which has become a popular destination for birders to see this and the preceding species along with other notable Southeast Asian wildlife.
Monotypic
Photo of an adult at Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity by @devilfish
Photo of an adult preening at Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity by @devilfish
Giant Ibis (Thaumatibis gigantea)
This is the largest species of ibis. Adults stand 3 feet tall and weigh 9 lbs. It has a dark brown colored body with a large silver patch on the wings that is streaked with brown markings. The legs are colored pinkish-red and the head as well as half of the neck are featherless with dark stripe-like markings lining the nape. For many of the same reasons as the White-Shouldered Ibis this species is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Its population stronghold is in Cambodia at Tmat Boey in Preah Vihear Province which has become a popular destination for birders to see this and the preceding species along with other notable Southeast Asian wildlife.
Monotypic
Photo of an adult at Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity by @devilfish
Photo of an adult preening at Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity by @devilfish
Geronticus
Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita)
Ranging in North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe this ibis can be identified by its orange bill, legs, iridescent green and purple plumage on the wings, as well as the crest on the back of its head. A widely kept species in captivity, it has undergone a reintroduction campaign by zoos and various conservation organizations to areas where it was previously extinct in the wild. This species was upgraded from Critically Endangered to Endangered by the IUCN in 2018.
Monotypic
Photo of an adult at Berlin Tierpark by @Patrick87
Closeup view of an adult at Artis Royal Zoo by @vogelcommando
Photo of a nesting adult with a chick in the nest at Milwaukee County Zoo by @birdsandbats
Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita)
Ranging in North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe this ibis can be identified by its orange bill, legs, iridescent green and purple plumage on the wings, as well as the crest on the back of its head. A widely kept species in captivity, it has undergone a reintroduction campaign by zoos and various conservation organizations to areas where it was previously extinct in the wild. This species was upgraded from Critically Endangered to Endangered by the IUCN in 2018.
Monotypic
Photo of an adult at Berlin Tierpark by @Patrick87
Closeup view of an adult at Artis Royal Zoo by @vogelcommando
Photo of a nesting adult with a chick in the nest at Milwaukee County Zoo by @birdsandbats
Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus)
Appearing like an avian clown with its white face, bulbous cranium and bill that are colored red, this species is easily distinguishable from its northern cousin. It also has glossy black feathers that show a greenish iridescence when seen in the bright sunlight. This species has a limited range, only occurring in Lesotho, north-east South Africa and west Swaziland with only about 3,300-4,000 individuals left. It is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
Monotypic
Photo of a juvenile at Pairi Daiza by @vogelcommando
Photo of an adult at Pairi Daiza by @vogelcommando
A closeup view of the face at Cologne Zoo by @Eagle
Appearing like an avian clown with its white face, bulbous cranium and bill that are colored red, this species is easily distinguishable from its northern cousin. It also has glossy black feathers that show a greenish iridescence when seen in the bright sunlight. This species has a limited range, only occurring in Lesotho, north-east South Africa and west Swaziland with only about 3,300-4,000 individuals left. It is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
Monotypic
Photo of a juvenile at Pairi Daiza by @vogelcommando
Photo of an adult at Pairi Daiza by @vogelcommando
A closeup view of the face at Cologne Zoo by @Eagle
Nipponia
Oriental Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon)
This rare East Asian endemic is closely related to its African relatives. Like the Northern Bald Ibis it has a bare face and a crest, but its plumage is white or grey, or a mixture of both and its bill is black with a scarlet tip. Ranging in Japan, China and Korea this species has undergone a massive decline over the years due to hunting, deforestation, loss of habitat and the use of pesticides. Zoos and conservation organizations in China and Japan are working on captive breeding projects to help rebuild the remaining populations to a stable number. It is listed as Endangered by the IUCN.
Monotypic
Photo of an adult at Chimelong Birds Park by @Himimomi
Photo of an all white individual at Beijing Zoo by @Deer Forest
Oriental Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon)
This rare East Asian endemic is closely related to its African relatives. Like the Northern Bald Ibis it has a bare face and a crest, but its plumage is white or grey, or a mixture of both and its bill is black with a scarlet tip. Ranging in Japan, China and Korea this species has undergone a massive decline over the years due to hunting, deforestation, loss of habitat and the use of pesticides. Zoos and conservation organizations in China and Japan are working on captive breeding projects to help rebuild the remaining populations to a stable number. It is listed as Endangered by the IUCN.
Monotypic
Photo of an adult at Chimelong Birds Park by @Himimomi
Photo of an all white individual at Beijing Zoo by @Deer Forest
Bostrychia
Olive Ibis (Bostrychia olivacea)
This little studied species has an appearance much like that of the more commonly known Hadada Ibis, but has a crest on the back of its head with an orange colored bill and legs. The four described subspecies below vary in appearance and occupy different regions of the African continent. This species has never been held in captivity and is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
There are four subspecies of this wide-ranging African ibis and they each vary in physical appearance. They are B.o.olivacea, B.o.cupriensis, B.o.rothschildi & B.o.akeleyorum. B.o.olivacea (the nominate subspecies) ranges in Sierra Leone & Liberia and appears much like the Hadada Ibis with its brown colored plumage, but has a green wing patch and crest. B.o.cupriensis ranges in Gabon, Cameroon, Congo and Zaire. It appears much like olivacea, but with more green on the body and neck. B.o.rothschildi (now presumed extinct) ranged on the Gulf of Guinea Island of Principe and its crest had a purple hue. B.o.akeleyorum is the largest subspecies and ranges in the mountainous regions of Kenya and Tanzania. Of all the subspecies, it has the largest amount of green coloring on its plumage and is significantly larger with a well-defined crest.
There are currently no images of this species in the galleries.
Olive Ibis (Bostrychia olivacea)
This little studied species has an appearance much like that of the more commonly known Hadada Ibis, but has a crest on the back of its head with an orange colored bill and legs. The four described subspecies below vary in appearance and occupy different regions of the African continent. This species has never been held in captivity and is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
There are four subspecies of this wide-ranging African ibis and they each vary in physical appearance. They are B.o.olivacea, B.o.cupriensis, B.o.rothschildi & B.o.akeleyorum. B.o.olivacea (the nominate subspecies) ranges in Sierra Leone & Liberia and appears much like the Hadada Ibis with its brown colored plumage, but has a green wing patch and crest. B.o.cupriensis ranges in Gabon, Cameroon, Congo and Zaire. It appears much like olivacea, but with more green on the body and neck. B.o.rothschildi (now presumed extinct) ranged on the Gulf of Guinea Island of Principe and its crest had a purple hue. B.o.akeleyorum is the largest subspecies and ranges in the mountainous regions of Kenya and Tanzania. Of all the subspecies, it has the largest amount of green coloring on its plumage and is significantly larger with a well-defined crest.
There are currently no images of this species in the galleries.
São Tomé Ibis (Bostrychia bocagei)
Once considered a subspecies of the Olive Ibis, this tiny ibis has an appearance much like the former but is only half the size and much less colorful sporting mostly all brown plumage with a small amount of green on the wings. Listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN it numbers less than 250 individuals and its habitat on the island of São Tomé is threatened by habitat loss as well as introduced species.
Monotypic
There are currently no images of this species in the galleries.
Once considered a subspecies of the Olive Ibis, this tiny ibis has an appearance much like the former but is only half the size and much less colorful sporting mostly all brown plumage with a small amount of green on the wings. Listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN it numbers less than 250 individuals and its habitat on the island of São Tomé is threatened by habitat loss as well as introduced species.
Monotypic
There are currently no images of this species in the galleries.
Spot-Breasted Ibis (Bostrychia rara)
A colorful West African species, this ibis looks very much like the last two species in this genus but has several noticeable differences. These include a much richer green colored body, bright spot-like patches on the breast and neck as well as bright blue facial skin markings near the eyes and throat. The Spot-Breasted Ibis ranges in much of West and Central Africa from Liberia through Ghana, Cameroon, Zaire, DRC, and western Uganda. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Monotypic
There are currently no images of this species in the galleries.
A colorful West African species, this ibis looks very much like the last two species in this genus but has several noticeable differences. These include a much richer green colored body, bright spot-like patches on the breast and neck as well as bright blue facial skin markings near the eyes and throat. The Spot-Breasted Ibis ranges in much of West and Central Africa from Liberia through Ghana, Cameroon, Zaire, DRC, and western Uganda. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Monotypic
There are currently no images of this species in the galleries.
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Hadada Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash)
A commonly seen ibis in zoos and the only Bostrychia species currently kept in captivity, the Hadada Ibis is known for its loud, raucous, three syllable call that sounds like “HA-DA-DA”. It has grown accustomed to people and has thrived among the urbanization of the African continent, often feeding and living in people’s backyards and gardens. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
There are three subspecies of the Hadada Ibis and they each vary in physical appearance. They are B.h.hagedash, B.h.brevirostris, and B.h.nilotica. B.h.hagedash (the nominate subspecies) ranges in eastern South Africa, Zimbabwe, and southern Mozambique. It has a grey-brown color to its plumage with shimmering purple markings on the wings. B.h.brevirostris is the most wide ranging subspecies. It lives across western, central and into eastern Africa. It appears browner than hagedash and has an iridescent green wing patch with a purple sheen to it. B.h.nilotica ranges in Uganda, western Tanzania, Zaire, Sudan, and Ethiopia. Its body is larger and shows a more intense shade of green. All subspecies show the red stripe that starts at the base of the bill and ends at the halfway point. However, in both brevirostris and nilotica the bill length is longer.
Photo of an adult of B.h.hagedash at Bioparc Valencia by @Maguari
Photo of an adult B.h.brevirostris at GaiaZoo Kerkrade by @KevinB
Photo of B.h.nilotica at Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium by @ThylacineAlive
A commonly seen ibis in zoos and the only Bostrychia species currently kept in captivity, the Hadada Ibis is known for its loud, raucous, three syllable call that sounds like “HA-DA-DA”. It has grown accustomed to people and has thrived among the urbanization of the African continent, often feeding and living in people’s backyards and gardens. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
There are three subspecies of the Hadada Ibis and they each vary in physical appearance. They are B.h.hagedash, B.h.brevirostris, and B.h.nilotica. B.h.hagedash (the nominate subspecies) ranges in eastern South Africa, Zimbabwe, and southern Mozambique. It has a grey-brown color to its plumage with shimmering purple markings on the wings. B.h.brevirostris is the most wide ranging subspecies. It lives across western, central and into eastern Africa. It appears browner than hagedash and has an iridescent green wing patch with a purple sheen to it. B.h.nilotica ranges in Uganda, western Tanzania, Zaire, Sudan, and Ethiopia. Its body is larger and shows a more intense shade of green. All subspecies show the red stripe that starts at the base of the bill and ends at the halfway point. However, in both brevirostris and nilotica the bill length is longer.
Photo of an adult of B.h.hagedash at Bioparc Valencia by @Maguari
Photo of an adult B.h.brevirostris at GaiaZoo Kerkrade by @KevinB
Photo of B.h.nilotica at Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium by @ThylacineAlive
Wattled Ibis (Bostrychia carunculata)
This Ethiopian resident is identified by the wattle located under the bill. A largely brown ibis, it has the orangish-red colored bill and legs found in other species of Bostrychia as well as the prominent crest like in the Olive Ibis. However, this species has a prominent white wing patch that is often laced on the edges with the usual brown plumage. It can be found all over the Ethiopian plateau at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 4,100 meters and is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Monotypic
Photo of an adult in Bale Mountains National Park by @Maguari
Photo of an adult showing the wattle in Simien Mountains National Park by @LaughingDove
This Ethiopian resident is identified by the wattle located under the bill. A largely brown ibis, it has the orangish-red colored bill and legs found in other species of Bostrychia as well as the prominent crest like in the Olive Ibis. However, this species has a prominent white wing patch that is often laced on the edges with the usual brown plumage. It can be found all over the Ethiopian plateau at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 4,100 meters and is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Monotypic
Photo of an adult in Bale Mountains National Park by @Maguari
Photo of an adult showing the wattle in Simien Mountains National Park by @LaughingDove
Fairly sure he's guessed from appearance, as I've never heard anything to suggest the ones at GaiaZoo are brevirostris.
Tierpark Berlin has proven nilotica.
I would be highly surprised if the ones in Berlin are still pure nilotica maybe the original stock was.... As is often the case such zoos will continue to list their animals as pure subspecies even if it is no longer the case....
Probably not the best approach, given that the lighting or the editing or the camera itself can all give a false impression of the shade of colour.
Depends on if they have had new blood in since the first two imports 30 years ago I suppose!
Theristicus
Plumbeous Ibis (Theristicus caerulescens)
This large grey ibis is endemic to the central parts of South America, particularly the Mato Grosso and Chaco regions in Brazil and Paraguay. This species can be identified by its largely grey and white mottled body with a crest on the back of the head along with a black bill and pink legs. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Monotypic
Photo of an individual in Bioparque M'Bopicuá by @devilfish
Photo of a specimen at the Harvard Museum of Natural History by @Sarus Crane
Plumbeous Ibis (Theristicus caerulescens)
This large grey ibis is endemic to the central parts of South America, particularly the Mato Grosso and Chaco regions in Brazil and Paraguay. This species can be identified by its largely grey and white mottled body with a crest on the back of the head along with a black bill and pink legs. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Monotypic
Photo of an individual in Bioparque M'Bopicuá by @devilfish
Photo of a specimen at the Harvard Museum of Natural History by @Sarus Crane
Buff-Necked Ibis (Theristicus caudatus)
This species of ibis is largely grey. Its wings are black with a white patch on each. The neck is greyish yellow with dark brown covering the back of the head down the nape as well as lining the underside and extending to the breast. It also has a black bill and face as well as pink legs.
There are two subspecies. T.c.caudatus resides in the northern part of South America to the Mato Grosso, while T.c.hyperorius ranges in the eastern part of Bolivia to south Brazil and northern Argentina. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Photo of an adult at Bioparque M'Bopicuá by @Juancho
Photo of a pair at Blackbrook Zoo by @Maguari
This species of ibis is largely grey. Its wings are black with a white patch on each. The neck is greyish yellow with dark brown covering the back of the head down the nape as well as lining the underside and extending to the breast. It also has a black bill and face as well as pink legs.
There are two subspecies. T.c.caudatus resides in the northern part of South America to the Mato Grosso, while T.c.hyperorius ranges in the eastern part of Bolivia to south Brazil and northern Argentina. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Photo of an adult at Bioparque M'Bopicuá by @Juancho
Photo of a pair at Blackbrook Zoo by @Maguari
Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii)
Appearing much like the Buff-Necked Ibis, except lacking the buff color on the neck and white wing patch, this ibis is endemic to 3,000-5,000 meter highland regions across Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. It is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
Monotypic
There are currently no images of this species in the galleries.
Appearing much like the Buff-Necked Ibis, except lacking the buff color on the neck and white wing patch, this ibis is endemic to 3,000-5,000 meter highland regions across Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. It is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
Monotypic
There are currently no images of this species in the galleries.
Black-Faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis)
The most common species of Theristicus in captivity, this ibis resembles the last two members of its genus, except that it has a large noticeable black wattle below the bill. It also ranges more south than any other ibis on the South American continent where it lives in south and central Argentina & Chile. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Monotypic
Photo of an individual at Blackbrook Zoo by @Maguari
Closeup view of the head by @robreintjes
Photo of a specimen at the Harvard Museum of Natural History by @Sarus Crane
The most common species of Theristicus in captivity, this ibis resembles the last two members of its genus, except that it has a large noticeable black wattle below the bill. It also ranges more south than any other ibis on the South American continent where it lives in south and central Argentina & Chile. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Monotypic
Photo of an individual at Blackbrook Zoo by @Maguari
Closeup view of the head by @robreintjes
Photo of a specimen at the Harvard Museum of Natural History by @Sarus Crane
Cercibis
Sharp-Tailed Ibis (Cercibis oxycerca)
This large, black ibis is easily identified by the plain black color of its feathers, burnt orange skin color on its face as well as its legs. It also has a small light blue skin patch located under each eye. This species has prominent, long tail feathers and lives in the northern regions of South America in wet open grasslands. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Monotypic
There are currently no images of this species in the galleries.
Sharp-Tailed Ibis (Cercibis oxycerca)
This large, black ibis is easily identified by the plain black color of its feathers, burnt orange skin color on its face as well as its legs. It also has a small light blue skin patch located under each eye. This species has prominent, long tail feathers and lives in the northern regions of South America in wet open grasslands. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Monotypic
There are currently no images of this species in the galleries.