General Description: Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) are dark wading birds with long legs and a long, decurved bill. Breeding birds are chestnut colored on the shoulders with glossy green-black wings, dark legs, a yellow-brown bill, dark facial skin, and a narrow white border on the facial skin above and below the eye (not behind the eye). Juveniles are glossy black overall and lack the white facial border.

This species is difficult to distinguish from White-faced Ibis, but at close range, White-faced Ibis can be seen to have red eyes (except the eyes are dark in first-fall birds).

Taxonomy: Pelecaniformes, Threskiornithidae, Threskiornithinae.

Favored Habitat: Shallow ponds and marshes.

Where to Find: Don't look for Glossy Ibis around Las Vegas. Rather, look for them along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the southeastern US. Around Las Vegas, keep an eye out for them during migration in places with wetlands.

Comments: These birds are rare winter visitors in the Las Vegas area.