Ibis

The ibises (collective plural ibis; classical plurals ibides and ibes) are a group of long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae. (from the greek word Greek thrēskeia meaning religion)

Straw necked Ibis ( Threskiornis spinicollis). image:R.Conan-Davies

They all have long, down-curved bills, and usually feed as a group, probing mud for food items, usually crustaceans. Most species nest in trees, often with spoonbills or herons.

Straw necked Ibis ( Threskiornis spinicollis) are characterised by their distinctive straw like plumage on their necks. image: R.Conan-Davies

The word ibis comes from Latin ibis from Greek ἶβις ibis from Egyptian hb, hīb.

Species

There are 28 extant species and 2 extinct species of ibis.

Genus Threskiornis

• African sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus
• Malagasy sacred ibis, Threskiornis bernieri
• †Reunion ibis, Threskiornis solitarius (extinct)
• Black-headed ibis, Threskiornis melanocephalus
• Australian white ibis, Threskiornis molucca
• Straw-necked ibis, Threskiornis spinicollis

Genus Pseudibis

• Red-naped ibis, Pseudibis papillosa
• White-shouldered ibis, Pseudibis davisoni
• Giant ibis, Pseudibis gigantea

Red-naped ibis, Pseudibis papillosa. image: wikipedia/Niraj Vijaykumar

Genus Geronticus

• Northern bald ibis, Geronticus eremita
• Southern bald ibis, Geronticus calvus

Genus Nipponia

• Crested ibis, Nipponia nippon

A crested ibis image: wikipedia/Danielinblue

Genus Bostrychia

• Olive ibis, Bostrychia olivacea
• Sao Tome ibis, Bostrychia bocagei
• Spot-breasted ibis, Bostrychia rara
• Hadada ibis, Bostrychia hagedash
• Wattled ibis, Bostrychia carunculata

Genus Theristicus

• Plumbeous ibis, Theristicus caerulescens
• Buff-necked ibis, Theristicus caudatus
• Black-faced ibis, Theristicus melanopis

Genus Cercibis

• Sharp-tailed ibis, Cercibis oxycerca

Genus Mesembrinibis

• Green ibis, Mesembrinibis cayennensis

Genus Phimosus

• Bare-faced ibis, Phimosus infuscatus

Genus Eudocimus

• American white ibis, Eudocimus albus
• Scarlet ibis, Eudocimus ruber

A Scarlet ibis, Eudocimus ruberimage: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen 

Genus Plegadis

• Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
• White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi
• Puna ibis, Plegadis ridgwayi

Genus Lophotibis

• Madagascar ibis, Lophotibis cristata

An extinct species, the Jamaican ibis or clubbed-wing ibis (Xenicibis xympithecus) was uniquely characterized by its club-like wings.

Source: Ibis. (2014, December 24). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 07:54, January 30, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ibis&oldid=639461082