American White Ibis

The American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) is a species of bird in the ibis family, Threskiornithidae. It is found from Virginia via the Gulf Coast of the United States south through most of the coastal New World tropics. This particular ibis is a medium-sized bird with a white overall plumage, a brilliant red-orange bill with a downward curve, long legs, and black wing tips that are typically only visible in flight. Males have longer bills and greater size than females.

The Gulf, Atlantic, Mexican, and Central American coasts are all included in the breeding range. The distribution encompasses the Caribbean as well as a larger portion of North America outside of the mating season. Additionally, it can be found in Colombia and Venezuela along the coast of northwestern South America. In the heart of Venezuela, many populations mix and breed with the scarlet ibis. Some experts have grouped the two together as a single species. Their main sources of food are tiny water animals like insects and tiny fish. In most areas, crayfish are its favorite food, but it can change its diet depending on the ecology and the availability of prey. Its primary method of foraging involves probing the bottom of shallow water with its beak in order to locate and seize its prey.