Ibis
The ibises (collective plural ibis; classical plurals ibides and ibes) are a group of long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae. They all have long down curved bills, and usually feed as a group, probing mud for food items, usually crustaceans. Most species nest in trees, often with spoonbills or herons. The word ibis comes from Greek, originally borrowed from Ancient Egyptian hîb and also followed from the root hb.
Species in taxonomic order
Genus Threskiornis
Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus
Madagascar Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis bernieri
Réunion Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis solitarius extinct
Black-headed Ibis, Threskiornis melanocephalus
Australian White Ibis, Threskiornis molucca
Straw-necked Ibis, Threskiornis spinicollis
Genus Pseudibis
Indian Black Ibis, Pseudibis papillosa
White-shouldered Ibis, Pseudibis davisoni
Genus Thaumatibis
Giant Ibis, Thaumatibis gigantea
Genus Geronticus
Northern Bald Ibis, Geronticus eremita
Southern Bald Ibis, Geronticus calvus
Genus Nipponia
Japanese Crested Ibis, Nipponia nippon
Genus Bostrychia
Olive Ibis, Bostrychia olivacea
Dwarf Olive Ibis, Bostrychia bocagei
Spot-breasted Ibis, Bostrychia rara
Hadada Ibis, Bostrychia hagedash
Wattled Ibis, Bostrychia carunculata
Genus Theristicus
Plumbeous Ibis, Theristicus caerulescens
Buff-necked Ibis, Theristicus caudatus
Black-faced Ibis, Theristicus melanopis
Genus Cercibis
Sharp-tailed Ibis, Cercibis oxycerca
Genus Mesembrinibis
Green Ibis, Mesembrinibis cayennensis
Genus Phimosus
Whispering Ibis, Phimosus infuscatus
Genus Eudocimus
American White Ibis, Eudocimus albus
Scarlet Ibis, Eudocimus ruber
Genus Plegadis
Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
White-faced Ibis, Plegadis chihi
Puna Ibis, Plegadis ridgwayi
Genus Lophotibis
Madagascar Crested Ibis, Lophotibis cristata
In culture
The Sacred Ibis was an object of religious veneration in ancient Egypt, particularly associated with the god, Thoth. At the town of Hermopolis, ibises were reared specifically for sacrificial purposes and in the Serapeum at Saqqara, archaeologists found the mummies of one and a half million ibises and hundreds of thousands of falcons.
According to local legend in the Birecik area, the Northern Bald Ibis was one of the first birds that Noah released from the Ark as a symbol of fertility, and a lingering religious sentiment in Turkey helped the colonies there to survive long after the demise of the species in Europe.
The mascot of the University of Miami is an American White Ibis. The ibis was selected as the school mascot because of its legendary bravery during hurricanes. The ibis is the last sign of wildlife to take shelter before a hurricane hits and the first to reappear once the storm has passed. Miami's sports teams are nicknamed "The Hurricanes".
Songs about the ibis
Ibis by Can from the album Unlimited Edition
Translation
The word "Ibis" occurs as such in the following languages: English, Afrikaans, Czech, Indonesian, Romanian.
Translation(s) in other languages: Arabic: أبو منجل, Guarani: Karãu, Aymara: Ch'uwankira, German: Ibisse, Navajo: Tsídiidaashiyishí, Spanish: Threskiornithinae, Esperanto: Ibisoj, French: Ibis (oiseau), Italian: Threskiornithinae, Swahili: Kwarara, Japanese: トキ亜科, Norwegian (Nynorsk): Ibisar, Polish: Ibisy, Portuguese: Íbis, Tamil: அரிவாள் மூக்கன்.
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