With its large size, dark plumage and strongly down-curved bill, the glossy ibis is unlikely to be confused with any other bird that occurs in New Zealand. A few reach New Zealand most years, where they are mainly seen in wetlands, estuaries and damp pasture. Although usually seen singly, pairs and flocks of up to 24 birds are also occasionally seen.

Identification

The glossy ibis is a heron-sized bird with a strongly down-curved bill, reddish-brown body plumage, and shiny bottle-green wings. Immature individuals have more muted brown plumage. The long curved bill is dark brown. In breeding condition, the adults have cobalt-blue facial skin patches. The face mask is blue-grey in non-breeding individuals.

Voice: breeding birds emit croaks and grunts, including a hoarse “grrrr”.

Similar species: straw-necked ibis has white underparts and (as adult) straw-like neck plumes. Eastern curlew is of similar size and bill shape, but is mottled brown.

Distribution and habitat

The glossy ibis is widely distributed throughout most warm temperate and tropical regions of the world. It is common throughout much of southern Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Atlantic and Caribbean region of the Americas. Its preferred habitat is areas of shallow freshwater or brackish wetlands with tall dense stands of emergent vegetation such as reeds, papyrus or rushes, and low trees or bushes. They also occur in coastal areas and open grassland. Most glossy ibises in New Zealand have been seen in damp rough pasture, the margins of freshwater lakes, and in estuaries. They may form large flocks and congregate in communal roost sites. Currently, it is not listed as threatened by the IUCN but there are alerts to the threats of wetland habitat degradation and loss through drainage, irrigation and invasion by exotic plants.

New Zealand records

The glossy ibis is a frequent vagrant to New Zealand. There have been at least 50 records, mostly of single birds, since the first sighting at Washdyke Lagoon (Timaru) in 1902. Small flocks arrived in 1953 (three flocks of 14, 18 & 24 birds), 1968 (3), 1975 (4) and 1988 (6 & 7). In recent years there has been a bird present every winter at Travis Wetland and nearby Bexley Wetlands, Christchurch (1999-2014), and 1-2 birds have been seen regularly at Unahi (Northland), Ohiwa (Bay of Plenty), and Manawatu Estuary, with up to 5 at Wairau Lagoons (Blenheim). There are two records from Stewart Islands, and one reached Chatham Island in December 1984. The first reported breeding in New Zealand was a pair on a nest at Wainono Lagoon, South Canterbury, in January 2015. Three young fledged from a second site (Wairau Lagoons, Blenheim) in December 2015.

Behaviour and ecology

The first New Zealand breeding record was a single pair among a royal spoonbill colony. Elsewhere it is a communal breeder, and also congregates in migrating flocks outside the breeding season. The glossy ibis rarely calls, but when breeding it emits croaks and grunts, including a hoarse “grrrr”. It is an active predator that hunts with a probing action of its long downward-curved bill.

Food

Prey items depend on the season and location, and include a variety of invertebrates, and occasionally fish, amphibians, lizards, small snakes and nestling birds.

Weblinks

BirdLife factsheet

Wikipedia

References

Child, P. 1969. Glossy ibis in Central Otago. Notornis 16: 62.

Edgar, A.T. (compiler) 1976. Classified summarised notes. Notornis 23: 323-353.

Heather, B.D.; Robertson, H.A. 1996. The field guide to the birds of New Zealand. Viking, Auckland.

Keeley, B.R. (compiler) 1989. Classified summarised notes, North Island 1 July 1987 to 30 June 1988. Notornis 36: 197-222.

Powlesland, R.G.; Crockett, D. 1986. A glosy [sic] ibis in the Chatham Islands. Notornis 33: 232.

Robertson, H.A; Baird, K.; Elliott, G.P.; Hitchmough, R.A.; McArthur, N.J.; Makan, T.; Miskelly, C.M.; O’Donnell, C.F.J.; Sagar, P.M.; Scofield, R.P.; Taylor, G.A.; Michel, P. 2021. Conservation status of birds in Aotearoa New Zealand birds, 2021. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 36. Wellington, Department of Conservation. 43p.

Sansom, O.; Bell, B.D.; Andrews, T.; Wilson, R.A. 1954. Visitation of glossy ibis. Notornis 6: 18-19.

Thompson, M. 2015. Discovery of first breeding attempt of glossy ibis in New Zealand. Birds New Zealand 5: 10-11.

Recommended citation

Seabrook-Davison, M.; Miskelly, C. 2013 [updated 2022]. Glossy ibis. In Miskelly, C.M. (ed.) New Zealand Birds Online. www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz