Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Eudocimus albus

The white ibis is about two feet tall and has a wingspan of about three feet. It is entirely white except for its black-edged wings that can be seen more easily when it is in flight. It has a long, down-curved reddish-orange bill and a reddish-orange face. Its legs are long and gray, except for during breeding season when they turn scarlet-orange. Their mating season is about now until August so these birds begin to show pinkish legs, getting ready to making whoopee.

The white ibis wades in the water sweepings its heads from side-to-side in search of food. It uses its long, curved bill to probe in the mud for crabs and crayfish. It swallows its prey whole. It also forages for food on land and it may also eat insects, frogs, snails, marine worms, snakes and small fish. These are far away from our Everglades so they are making a living in this grass field, very busy after a brief morning shower that seemed to bring new foodstuff.

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