Birds found in NSW Wetlands

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The Birds of NSW Wetlands - Ibises

Order - Ciconiiformes

Straw-necked Ibis eggs and juveniles, Booligal Wetland, Dec 1990

Straw-necked Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Sacred Ibis
References and Further Reading

Straw-necked Ibis

Threskiornis spinicollis

Source: DLWC

General Characteristics:

The most abundant and widespread ibis in Australia.

Black wings and backs, white breast, belly and tail. Dark brown featherless heads. Straw-like feathers on the lower neck of both males and females. Males have a longer bill.

Breed in large noisy colonies often mixed and associated with spoonbills.

Often seen perched in dead trees.

Feed in both wet and dry areas.

Often graze paddocks in large flocks in response to grasshopper plagues.

Diet:

Small animals, crustaceans and insects.

Habitat:

Concentrated along inland river systems, only rarely found on the coast.

Distribution in NSW:

Found throughout NSW.

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Glossy Ibis

Plegadis falcinellus

General Characteristics:

The smallest ibis in Australia.

Looks black from a distance, but is more reddish-brown up close. Males have longer bills than females.

Feed in small flocks in shallow water and in mud flats.

Nest in bushes or trees

Often breed in colonies mixed with Straw-necked and Sacred Ibises.

Diet:

Frogs, snails, spiders and aquatic insects.

Habitat:

More often found concentrated along inland river systems and inland swamps, than on the coast.

Distribution in NSW:

Found throughout NSW.

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Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopica

Source: MDBC

General Characteristics:

Nomadic.

Has no feathers on head, neck or back. Skin on head and throat is black. Skin on back is white. Breast and underside are white, with a black tail and bill.

Breed in colonies often mixed and associated with spoonbills.

Build their nests in secluded areas on trampled reed beds. They do not commence breeding until their breeding grounds are flooded to usually at least 1m.

Diet:

Crustaceans, aquatic insects, fish, snails, worms, small snakes and frogs.

Habitat:

Mostly concentrated along inland river systems, swamps and irrigated pastures, only occasionally found on the coast.

Forages only in water covered ground.

Distribution in NSW:

Found throughout NSW.

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References and Further Reading

Fullagar, P. J. and Davey, C. C. 1983. Herons, Egrets, Ibises and Spoonbills. Order: Ciconiiformes. In "Wetlands in New South Wales". (Ed C. Haigh). National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW.

McKilligan, N.G. (1975) ‘Breeding and movements of the straw-necked ibis in Australia’, Emu, 75, pp 199 – 212.

Readers Digest. 1988. Readers Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds. Reader’s Digest, Sydney.

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Copyright © 2000 - NSW Department of Natural Resources
www.naturalresources.nsw.gov.au

Wetlands Facts about Wetlands Wetland Plants and Animals Birds Search: [ HOME ] [ CONTACT ]		The Birds of NSW Wetlands - Ibises *Order - Ciconiiformes* Straw-necked Ibis eggs and juveniles, Booligal Wetland, Dec 1990 Straw-necked Ibis Glossy Ibis Sacred Ibis References and Further Reading Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis Source: DLWC General Characteristics: The most abundant and widespread ibis in Australia. Black wings and backs, white breast, belly and tail. Dark brown featherless heads. Straw-like feathers on the lower neck of both males and females. Males have a longer bill. Breed in large noisy colonies often mixed and associated with spoonbills. Often seen perched in dead trees. Feed in both wet and dry areas. Often graze paddocks in large flocks in response to grasshopper plagues. *Diet:* Small animals, crustaceans and insects. *Habitat:* Concentrated along inland river systems, only rarely found on the coast. *Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus General Characteristics: The smallest ibis in Australia. Looks black from a distance, but is more reddish-brown up close. Males have longer bills than females. Feed in small flocks in shallow water and in mud flats. Nest in bushes or trees Often breed in colonies mixed with Straw-necked and Sacred Ibises. Diet:* Frogs, snails, spiders and aquatic insects. *Habitat:* More often found concentrated along inland river systems and inland swamps, than on the coast. *Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopica Source: MDBC General Characteristics: Nomadic. Has no feathers on head, neck or back. Skin on head and throat is black. Skin on back is white. Breast and underside are white, with a black tail and bill. Breed in colonies often mixed and associated with spoonbills. Build their nests in secluded areas on trampled reed beds. They do not commence breeding until their breeding grounds are flooded to usually at least 1m. Diet:* Crustaceans, aquatic insects, fish, snails, worms, small snakes and frogs. *Habitat:* Mostly concentrated along inland river systems, swamps and irrigated pastures, only occasionally found on the coast. Forages only in water covered ground. *Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] References and Further Reading* Fullagar, P. J. and Davey, C. C. 1983. Herons, Egrets, Ibises and Spoonbills. Order: Ciconiiformes. In "Wetlands in New South Wales". (Ed C. Haigh). National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW. McKilligan, N.G. (1975) ‘Breeding and movements of the straw-necked ibis in Australia’, Emu, 75, pp 199 – 212. Readers Digest. 1988. Readers Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds. Reader’s Digest, Sydney.

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	Copyright © 2000 - NSW Department of Natural Resources www.naturalresources.nsw.gov.au