White-faced Ibis

Plegadis chihi

First photographed: June 24, 2026
First location: Utah, United States
Conservation status: Least Concern

Flock of white-faced ibis flying near Salt Lake City, Utah.

An evolving study

White-faced Ibis portfolio

This collection grows as I return to photograph new behavior, habitat, seasons, and stages of life.

White-faced ibis wading through a shallow marsh land near Salt Lake City, Utah.

Natural history

Species at a glance

Plegadis chihi

Overview

The White-faced Ibis is a long-legged wading bird that probes soft mud with its downcurved bill. Large flocks commute between shallow wetlands and colonial nesting sites, their dark plumage flashing bronze and green in sunlight.

Identification

Breeding adults are glossy chestnut with iridescent green wings, red eyes and legs, and a narrow border of white feathers around bare pink facial skin. Nonbreeding adults and immatures are duller with a streaked head and neck.

Range

Breeds locally across the Great Basin, Great Plains, and western interior of North America and occurs more broadly from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Habitat

Shallow freshwater and brackish marshes, flooded meadows, wet agricultural fields, mudflats, and pond margins.

Diet

Aquatic insects, worms, crustaceans, snails, small fish, amphibians, and other prey found in soft soil and shallow water.

Photography by Brittany Templin

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