Australian White Ibis

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Australian White Ibis

Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Threskiornithidae
Subfamily: Threskionithinae
Genus: Threskiornis
Species: T. molucca
Binomial name
Threskiornis molucca
Cuvier, 1829
Subspecies
  • T. m. molucca (Australasian White Ibis)
  • T. m. pygmaeus (Solomon Islands White Ibis)

The Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) is a wading bird of the ibis family Threskiornithidae, also known as the "Sheep bird". They are widespread in eastern and south western Australia.

This ibis occurs in marshy wetlands, often near open grasslands and has become common in Australian east coast city parks and rubbish dumps since 1998, which along with its large size has has led to the nickname of "Tip Turkey"[1]. The Australian Ibis is known to have a putrid smell of rotting fish or rubbish dumps[2].

This ibis feeds on various fish, frogs and other water creatures, and also insects and garbage.

This species has a bald black head and neck and a long black downcurved beak. The body plumage is white with some black feathers near the tail. The legs are dark and red skin is visible on the underside of the wing. The head and neck are feathered in juveniles.

[edit] See also

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[edit] References

  1. ^ Ibis invasion. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved on November 22, 2007.
  2. ^ Ibises – cull them or cuddle them?. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved on November 5, 2006.

[edit] Gallery

Preening

Walking

In a park