Scarlet Ibis
(Eudocimus ruber)
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Threskiornithidae
Genus: Eudocimus
Species: Eudocimus ruber
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HABITAT AND RANGE:
The Scarlet Ibis inhabits estuaries, mud
flats, lagoons, shallow bays, marshes,
swamps, and mangrove trees. Its range
extends from Florida and the Caribbean
Islands into South America from
Venezuela to eastern Brazil. |
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PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
The Scarlet Ibis is unique in that it is
the only shorebird with bright red
plumage. They are generally bright pink
or red in color and are about 22-30
inches in length from bill to tail. The
young are dull grayish-brown with white
underparts and a stubby tail. |
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ADAPTATIONS:
The Scarlet Ibis has a long curved bill
which is ideal for probing mud and
shallow water in search of food. They
also have long legs, as do most wading
birds. Extremely social birds, they live
in large groups and fly in a V-formation
from their roosts to their feeding
grounds. Thought they are strong fliers,
they are more often seen wading in
shallow water in search of food. |
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DIET:
The diet of a Scarlet Ibis consists of
crabs, mollusks, small fish, frogs,
insects, shrimp and other crustaceans,
and small snakes. Like flamingos, Ibises
get their bright colors from the shrimp
that they eat. In captivity, their
colors may also be enhanced by adding a
beetroot and carrot supplement to their
diet. |
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REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT:
Scarlet Ibises congregate in colonies of
several hundred at breeding time,
nesting on dense brush and
mangrove-covered islands and shore areas
near river mouths. Their nests are
usually loose platforms of sticks that
are located in treetops overlooking
water. Usually 3-5 eggs are laid and
incubated for 19-23 days. Both parents
incubate and care for the young. |
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STATUS IN WILD:
The Scarlet Ibis is protected worldwide,
especially in the Caribbean nation of
Trinidad and Tobago, where it is revered
as the national bird. The only known
predators of the Scarlet Ibis are man
and large cats. |
