Identification: The ibis has a white body and black head and throat. Its beak is long, curved and slender and it has black plumes and feathers near the tail.

Call/Song: The usual call of this ibis is urk, but during breeding will also make calls resembling koaha, taw-taw and taw-aw.

Found in the eastern half and coastal south-west of mainland Australia.

Habitat:Common in grassland, wetland and park regions.

Feeding: White ibises feed mainly in shallow water where they move their bill from side to side probing for food. Eats crustaceans, water insects, fish, snails and frogs along with the occasional highly poisonous snake.

Breeding/Nesting:  Breeds September to April (depending on seasonal conditions). Constructs a platform of sticks, sometimes lined with water plants as a nest. This nest is placed on a low plant, bush or tree, generally in secluded areas.

Movement: Flies in a very distinctive V-formation with their necks outstretched. The ibis spends most of its time probing for food.

photo: H Iedema

Other Common Names: Sacred ibis, black-necked ibis, sicklebird.

Status: Common

Distribution: 

Abundance:  Occurs rarely in Lamington National Park.

Queensland Museum (1995) Wildlife of Greater Brisbane, Queensland Museum, Brisbane.

Reader's Digest Services (1979) Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds, Surry Hills, NSW.