The Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellus, is a native wading bird found year-round in Florida. Look for them in freshwater and saltwater marshes, swamps, ponds, lakes, mangroves, and flooded fields. Ibises wade in shallow water where they probe the mud for prey with their long beaks or snatch insects from the water’s surface. Food consists of dragonflies, crayfish, snails, crabs, fish, frogs, lizards, snakes, and more.
Glossy Ibises nest in colonies low in willows and other shrubs, on the ground, or in trees and shrubs near marshes or mangroves. The couple builds the nest and the female lays 3 – 4 eggs. The parents feed the young by regurgitation.
From a distance, Glossy Ibises appear dark. The sunlight will bring out the bronze, metallic green, and purple shades in the plumage.
Photo Credit: Dan Kon and Andy Waldo