Australian White Ibis: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Wings over Water · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. Some people think this ibis was brought from Egypt, but that is a myth. It is a native Australian bird, related to the African sacred ibis.
2. Once rare in towns, it has moved into east-coast cities since the late 1970s. Rummaging in rubbish earned it the nickname bin chicken.
3. Its favourite foods are crayfish and mussels. It finds them by digging with its long bill.
4. In several regions, ibises flick cane toads around until the toads release their bad-tasting toxin, then rinse them in water before eating.
5. In a 2017 national vote for the country's favourite native bird, the ibis was ahead for a long time and finished second, 843 votes behind the magpie.

The quiz

1. Where does the Australian white ibis really come from?

• Egypt
• It is native to Australia (correct)
• India
• It escaped from European zoos

It is a native Australian bird, not one brought from Egypt.

2. Why is the ibis nicknamed bin chicken?

• It sleeps inside bins
• It is the colour of bin bags
• It rummages through rubbish (correct)
• It lays its eggs in bins

Its habit of rummaging in outdoor rubbish gave it the name.

3. What are the Australian white ibis's favourite foods?

• Seeds and berries
• Crayfish and mussels (correct)
• Leaves and grass
• Honey and nectar

Crayfish and mussels top the menu, dug out with its long bill.

4. What do some ibises do to a cane toad before eating it?

• Bury it in mud for a day
• Leave it in the sun to dry
• Feed it to their chicks
• Flick it around, then wash it in water (correct)

Flicking makes the toad release its toxin, then they rinse it before eating.

5. Which bird beat the ibis in the 2017 vote for Australia's favourite native bird?

• The magpie (correct)
• The kookaburra
• The emu
• The cockatoo

The ibis came second, losing to the magpie by 843 votes.

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