EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

An Ibis of Many Habitats

Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis), Family Threskiornithidae
El Calafate, Argentina

Explanation:   Nestled in the reeds of the wetlands of Reserva Natural Laguna Nimez in El Calafate, southern Argentina, are these Black-faced Ibises.  They are at home here in the wetland reserve, but they also find suitable habitat in other situations.  

For example, they find good feeding opportunities in various open grasslands, both dry and green, such as shown here from central Chile:

They also occupy dry woods, low islands in lakes, and even cliffs, as well as high-altitude grasslands and even rural and urban areas.  

And they also occupy ... the skies overhead:

A wonderful sight to enjoy are these Black-faced Ibises
winging overhead, here in Puerto Varas, central Chile.

Information:
     Gantz, A., S. Sade, M. Yañez, and J.R. Rau.  2015.  Temporal variation in the feeding ecology of the Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis) in pastures of southern Chile.  Ornitologia Neotropical 26:311-323.
     Raimilla, V., J.R. Rau, and E.J. Niklitschek.  2015.  Use of exotic conifers as nesting sites by Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis melanopis) in an urban area of southern Chile.  Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 50(2):130-136.