Fun White Ibis Facts For Kids

White ibises (Eudocimus albus) are wading birds from North America. These North American birds belong to the family Threskiornithidae. These North American birds are found in large groups along the Atlantic coast and freshwater wetlands near North America. These birds also roam in public parks in places like Florida.

Their diet includes petite aquatic animals, small fish, and insects. They are beautiful birds with white plumage and black tips on their wings. They have a long bill and bright orange legs.

Do you wonder what it would be like to be a white ibis for a day? On an average day in the life of white ibises, they spend around 10 hours looking for food, 45 minutes flying, and 13 hours resting and tending to their nest.

We have curated white ibis bird facts, including American and Australian white ibis facts about their food, breeding colonies, and nest formation.

If you enjoyed facts about the white ibis (Eudocimus Albus), do read articles on other similar species like the sacred ibis or the glossy starling.

What type of animal is a white ibis?

White ibis (Eudocimus albus) birds are wading birds from North America of the order Pelecaniformes, family Threskiornithidae, and genus Eudocimus.

What class of animal does a white ibis ​belong to?

The white ibis is a member of the ibis family of the class of Aves.

How many white ibises are there in the world?

There are 150,000 mature adults across the world.

Where does a white ibis live?

These birds of North America choose wetlands as their preferred habitat. Freshwater and brackish marshes, rice fields, and wetlands are places where they can be witnessed. They prefer shallow water with less than 8 in (20.32 cm) of depth, but they also frequent lawns and parks, especially in southern Florida where they might be seen looking for insects, frogs, and snails to eat.

What is a white ibis' habitat?

These birds are found in the coastal regions and wetlands of North America. This is a suitable habitat for the species as food is abundant for the pair and their offspring (males, females, and young chicks).

Who do white ibises live with?

These birds are very social and can often be found in large colonies of 500 to 15,000 birds. Massive numbers of white ibises are observed at the spots where these birds feed. Groups of these birds are called a congregation or wedge.

How long does a white ibis live?

The average lifespan or the number of years these birds, commonly found in Florida (ibises), tend to live for is about 16-20 years.

How do they reproduce?

White ibises are monogamous and go through five stages during the breeding season, starting in the early spring season (March). Display, coitus, development of eggs, incubation, and chick-rearing are the five stages that are important for their breeding.

At the age of three, they breed for the first time. These birds, commonly located in Florida, breed in clusters, with other wading birds mixed in. Ritualized preening, bending forward and gripping twigs with the bill, pointing the bill skyward, and dropping the head onto the back are all breeding displays of males that have been observed. Sites of nest formation (nesting sites) are normally 2-15 ft (0.6-4.5 m) above land or water but may be higher or on the ground in mangroves, bushes, and thickets.

Both male and female birds contribute to the construction of the nest (nesting), with males carrying most of the materials and females performing the majority of the assembling. Material for their nest formation (nesting) is frequently taken from the nest of another pair of birds. The nest is normally made of rocks, but it may also be made of cordgrass or reeds.

What is their conservation status?

White ibises are listed under Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and have no special conservation status.

What do white ibises look like?

This ibis is almost completely white except for its black-edged wings. Its bill is curved and long and the bare skin around its blue eyes is bright red. Young chicks (from fall through winter) have a streaky brown to black collar; they are brown above (on their upper body) and white below (on their lower body). Young juveniles have orange-pink legs and bills. When these young ones grow into an adult plumage, they are splotchy black, brown, and white.

How cute are they?

These white birds (both male and female) can be very cute. Their white bodies with tinges of orange are a sight of beauty!

How do they communicate?

The white ibis is a calm and silent bird. White ibises use non-visual, tactile senses to detect prey. This North American bird showcases both verbal and physical cues (change of color) during its breeding seasons. Ibis chicks make a characteristic chirping or 'begging' sound.

How big is a white ibis?

Adults of this member of the order Pelecaniformes, family Threskiornithidae, and genus Eudocimus measure 21-28 in (53-70 cm) in length and have a wingspan of 35-41 in (90-105 cm).

How fast can a white ibis ​fly?

These birds, native to Mexico and Florida, can fly over 18.6 mi (30 km) in a single flight. These birds fly in a V-shaped configuration that is aerodynamically efficient.

How much does a white ibis weigh?

White ibises are a sexually dimorphic species and weigh around 1.685-2.285 lb (764.5-1,036.4 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no separate male and female names for the white-faced ibis.

What would you call a baby white ibis?

A juvenile white ibis (Eudocimus albus) is called a chick.

What do they eat?

White ibis flocks disperse to various locations depending upon the season in search of food. In pursuit of food, the white ibis wades in water, sweeping its head from side to side. It hunts for its food, such as crabs and crayfish in the mud with its long, curved bill. Insects, crustaceans, small fish, snails, frogs, and other marine species make up part of its prey.

Are they dangerous?

They are generally harmless, but their large size, especially their beak, can be frightening to some people. Ibis droppings, however, can alter the atmosphere to the point that some plants can no longer thrive.

Would they make a good pet?

There might be several legality issues while procuring a white ibis. They are not the best pets and have a tough time trying to live with humans.

Did you know...

Other than grunting or croaking on breeding fields, these birds are very silent.

This genus has withstood the test of time, and fossils as old as 60 million years are recorded!

Ibises prey on crabs and crayfish near their nesting sites, which in turn consume a lot of fish eggs. These birds help to boost the number of fish stocks by reducing the number of crayfish.

You cannot eat this bird. The meat turns green and gives out a weird taste upon cooking. Humans sometimes eat this species in Florida, but veterinarian doctors suggest that these feedings might also be harmful to humans as pathogens transmitted by this animal's feces can build up and pose a threat.

The white ibis and humans

In places like southern Florida, the white ibis can be seen at lots of local parks.

What does the white ibis symbolize?

Since this bird is the last to take refuge before a storm and the first to recover after it, the white ibis has become a sign of both risk and hope. The white ibis, like the other white birds, in general, also shows optimism for the future. It instills faith in humans and the world in general. How beautiful!

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about other birds from our Nicobar pigeon facts and flycatcher facts.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable white ibis coloring pages.

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