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Scientific Name : Eudocimus ruber
Scarlet ibises come from tropical parts of central and South America.
They need mud flats or shallow water in which to feed, and mangrove trees to sleep and nest in, so favourite habitats are mangrove swamps, river islands and estuaries. They always live in warm, tropical climates.
Ibises have long, slender, curved beaks for probing mud or shallow water to find shrimps, small crabs, fish and insects to eat. The red colour in some of the food keeps the ibis's feathers red.
Small cats such as ocelots are the scarlet ibis's main predators.
In large colonies, scarlet ibises build nests from twigs and plants, usually in mangrove trees. 3-5 eggs are laid, which take about three weeks to hatch. Baby chicks are dull brownish-grey in colour, gradually turning red as they grow up. They leave the nest at 3 weeks old and learn to fly at 5 weeks old. As with many other birds, both parents share the care of the eggs and chicks.
These birds are not yet threatened in the wild.
Scarlet ibises will
fight fiercely with their beaks, legs and wings to protect their chicks.
Facts and Figures |
|
Name |
scarlet ibis |
Type of animal |
bird |
Where found |
South America |
Habitat |
swamps |
Diet |
carnivorous |
Average length |
55 cm |
Average weight |
0.85 kg |
Average number of young per year |
3 |
Egg incubation |
23 days |
Maximum lifespan |
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