 The Glossy Ibis is a small, slender ibis
with a long curved bill. Adult Glossy Ibises have the head, neck, back and underparts a
rich chestnut-brown. The wings are black with a metallic green sheen on the 'shoulders'.
There is white stripe from the base of the bill to above the eye. The bill, legs and feet
are greenish-brown. The Glossy Ibis is a more slender, longer-billed bird than the Hadeda Ibis.
Name: Plegadis falcinellus
Habitat: Wetlands, marshes, muddy lake-shores and flooded grassland.
Distribution: The Glossy Ibis is found in subtropical Africa. This is a
migratory species, with most European birds wintering in Africa.
Diet: Insects, crustaceans, worms, molluscs, fish, frogs and small reptiles.
Socialisation: The Glossy Ibis normally occurs in small flocks but can
gather in larger groups when food is abundant.
Reproduction: Breeding occurs during the summer months. The nest is a compact
platform of twigs or reeds, situated in a tree, bush or reedbed. The Glossy Ibis is a
colonial nester, often nesting together in mixed heronries with other species.
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