Green Ibis

Characterized by being a medium-sized pelecaniform bird measuring between 48 and 56 centimeters in length and weighing approximately 700 to 900 grams. Its plumage is predominantly a glossy dark greenish-bronze, which can appear almost entirely black under poor light or within the shaded forest canopy. It features remarkably short legs of a pale greenish-gray hue and a stout, decurved bill of the same color. The facial skin is completely bare and of a dark bluish-gray tone, and it possesses a subtle, shaggy crest of feathers on the hindneck, giving it a distinctive cranial silhouette. Unlike other related species within its family, it lacks contrasting white facial patches or brightly colored plumage.

Geographical distribution: Occurs extensively throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America. Its range stretches from eastern Honduras and Nicaragua southward through the entire Amazon Basin and Andean nations such as Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela, also encompassing the Guianas, a large portion of Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. Although it occupies an extremely wide distribution, it is generally a sedentary species with local habits, not engaging in long-distance seasonal migrations and remaining within its established territory throughout the year.

Habitat: Inhabits primarily forested swamps, wooded wetlands, flooded forests, slow-flowing riverbanks, mangroves, and the margins of lagoons enclosed by dense arboreal vegetation. In stark contrast to other ibis species that favor open grasslands and savannahs, this taxon shows a strong preference for closed-canopy forest environments and shaded wetlands, where the dense foliage provides essential cover and foraging opportunities shielded from direct sunlight and aerial predators.

Feeding: Comprises an omnivorous diet with a strong carnivorous preference, focusing mainly on aquatic invertebrates, insect larvae, earthworms, snails, small crustaceans, amphibians, and occasionally small fish. To capture its prey, it walks slowly through mud or wet leaf litter, using its long, decurved bill, which is equipped with sensitive tactile mechanoreceptors, to perform a continuous probing motion in the mud or under decomposing organic matter, extracting food items with remarkable precision and swift suction.

Behavior: Displays predominantly solitary or paired habits, being highly unusual to observe in large flocks. It is a secretive, easily startled bird that remains hidden during midday hours, showing its peak activity levels during twilight and the early hours of the morning. Its vocalization is highly distinctive, consisting of a loud, accelerating, rolling series of harsh notes that echo through the forest canopy, typically emitted when flushed, during flight, or when settling into its nocturnal roosting trees located high in the forest canopy.

Nesting: Takes place solitarily rather than in colonies, which is an atypical behavior compared to most other ibis species. It builds a bulky, platform-like nest made of dry twigs and sticks, positioned at a substantial height of 8 to 15 meters above the ground, usually in the fork of a mature tree hanging over or situated very close to water. The female lays a clutch of 2 to 4 eggs that are greenish-blue with brown blotches, which are incubated by both parents for approximately 20 to 23 days, and both adults subsequently care for and feed the chicks through regurgitation until they fledge.

Conservation status: Classified under the Least Concern (LC) category on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Although the global population is considered stable due to its vast geographical range, the species faces local threats driven by wooded wetland degradation, tropical deforestation, water pollution, and, to a lesser extent, subsistence hunting, all of which underscore the need for ongoing monitoring of its riparian habitats.