Scarlet Ibis - BirdForum Opus

Photo © by rka
Brickfield, Trinidad, April 2004

Eudocimus ruber

Identification

Immature
Photo © by rka
Caroni Swamp, Trinidad, October 2018

56-71 cm (22-28 in)

• Scarlet plumage
• Black wing-tips
• Long curved bill
  

Juvenile

• Greyish-white with gradual change to scarlet

Distribution

South America and Trinidad and Tobago.

Introduced/escaped birds are occasionally seen in Florida and possibly elsewhere.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species¹.

Habitat

Photo © by gaviao-real
Ilha de Marajó, Brazil, July 2007

Mangrove swamps, lagoons and coastal mudflats.

Behaviour

Breeding

The stick nest is built by both adults. The clutch consists of 2-4 dull green, brown streaked eggs which are incubated for 23 days.

Diet

The diet includes crustaceans and similar small marine animals.

In Culture

National bird of Trinidad.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. BF Member observations

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Scarlet Ibis. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 17 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Scarlet_Ibis

External Links

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