Glossy ibis India,Rajkot,22-08-2014. The glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a wading bird in the...

Glossy ibis
India,Rajkot,22-08-2014.

The glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a wading bird in the ibis family Threskiornithidae.This is the most widespread ibis species, breeding in scattered sites in warm regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Atlantic and Caribbean regions of the Americas. It is thought to have originated in the Old World and spread naturally from Africa to northern South America in the 19th century, from where it spread to North America. This species is migratory; most European birds winter in Africa, and in North America birds from north of the Carolinas winter farther south. Birds from other populations may disperse widely outside the breeding season. While generally declining in Europe, it has recently established a breeding colony in southern Spain, and there appears to be a growing trend for the Spanish birds to winter in Britain and Ireland, with at least 22 sightings in 2010. In 2014, a pair attempted to breed in Lincolnshire, the first such attempt in Britain
This species is a mid-sized ibis. It is 48–66 cm (19–26 in) long, averaging around 59.4 cm (23.4 in) with an 80–105 cm (31–41 in) wingspan. The culmen measures 9.7 to 14.4 cm (3.8 to 5.7 in) in length, each wing measures 24.8–30.6 cm (9.8–12.0 in), the tail is 9–11.2 cm (3.5–4.4 in) and the tarsus measures 6.8–11.3 cm (2.7–4.4 in). The body mass of this ibis can range from 485 to 970 g (1.069 to 2.138 lb). Breeding adults have reddish-brown bodies and shiny bottle-green wings. Non-breeders and juveniles have duller bodies. This species has a brownish bill, dark facial skin bordered above and below in blue-gray (non-breeding) to cobalt blue (breeding), and red-brown legs. Unlike herons, ibises fly with necks outstretched, their flight being graceful and often in V formation.
Sounds made by this rather quiet ibis include a variety of croaks and grunts, including a hoarse grrrr made when breeding. .[Wikipedia].
[photo© - Raju Karia]

#birds #bird #birdphotography #birdphotographs #wildlifephotography #wildphotographer #wildlife
#BTPBirdPro – +BTP Bird Pro . founded by +Rinus Bakker , owned by +Nancy Dempsey ,curated by +Jack Stepanyan and +Walli Veeser
#hqspbirds +HQSP Birds curated by +Andy Brown +Dilip Mundkur +Matthew Stephenson and +Terrie Gray
#Birds4All by +Ricky L Jones  +Walter Soestbergen (+Birds4All)
#birdsgallery  +Birds GALLERY +Heinrich Wagner +Susan Wilkinson
+Robert SKREINER  +BIRD LOVERS Worldwide  #birdloversworldwide