BLACK-FACED IBIS

Common name:
BLACK-FACED IBIS

Scientific name:
Theristicus melanopsis

Class:
Birds

Order:
Pelecaniformes

Family:
Threskiornithidae

Origin:
Argentina, Chile

Diet:
Invertebrates and small vertebrates

Habitat:
South American grasslands, forests, and wetlands

Reproduction:
Builds nests in trees, where each female lays 2–4 eggs.

The black-faced ibis, native to Argentina and Chile, inhabits a variety of environments — from grasslands to mountainous regions. It measures about 75 cm in length and features a cream-colored neck and chest, darker head and nape, grey wings, and a long black bill with a distinctive black facial patch. This highly adaptable species feeds on invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, using its long, curved bill to forage. Black-faced ibises form monogamous pairs and breed from September to March, often gathering in large, noisy colonies. In the wild, their natural habitat is gradually decreasing.