Ibis – White and Glossy Comparison
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Two of the three Ibis species in North America are seen in Florida, the White Ibis and the Glossy Ibis.
Many times the common White Ibis roam in small flocks and can be very easy to find, including residential communities.
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White Ibis (adults)
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White Ibis (adult) in a strand
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During their first winter, a White Ibis is actually brown above and white below with a streaky brown neck. As they molt into adult plumage, immatures (first summer birds) are splotchy brown and white above as they molt into their white adult plumage.
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Lone White Ibis (juvenile) visiting our campsite
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White Ibis (immature molting into adult plumage)
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White Ibis (adult)
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Not too easy a sighting is the Glossy Ibis, let alone finding several together at a time. And it is the one of these two Ibis that birders get excited on finding. They are very skittish and remain in hiding most of the time in remote locations.
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Glossy Ibis
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The plumage appears dark, almost blackish, at a distance or in poor light.
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Glossy Ibis
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At close range and with the lighting hitting just right, you’ll find much of the body is maroonish, with the wing coverts showing metallic green, bronze, and violet tones. During breeding season, all these colors become much more vibrant.
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Glossy Ibis
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The next shot was definitely a right place right time moment for me and two other bird photographers when it came around the mangroves and in front of us 100′ away. As soon as it saw us, the Glossy Ibis quickly disappeared back into the mangrove root thicket out of sight for good.
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Glossy Ibis
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I couldn’t wait to check the series of that last shot to see if I lucked out and didn’t mess up a sweet encounter!
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