Scarlet Ibis: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Cranes, Flamingos and Herons · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. No other wading bird in the world has red feathers like the scarlet ibis.
2. Scarlet ibis chicks hatch grey-brown. A diet of red crustaceans turns them scarlet over about two years.
3. In the Llanos wetlands of South America, home to seven ibis species, the scarlet ibis is the most aggressive and steals food from other birds.
4. Scarlet ibises typically gather in flocks of thirty or more, and probe soft mud with their long, thin bills.
5. In parts of Colombia and Venezuela, scarlet and white ibises pair up. Their hybrids are pale orange, or white with a few orange feathers.

The quiz

1. What is special about the scarlet ibis among wading birds?

• It is the tallest
• It is the only red one (correct)
• It is the only one that swims
• It is the only one with a black head

It is the only wading bird in the world with red feathers.

2. What colour are scarlet ibis chicks when they hatch?

• Bright scarlet
• Pure white
• Grey-brown (correct)
• Black

Chicks hatch grey-brown and turn scarlet over about two years.

3. In the Llanos, how does the scarlet ibis get extra food?

• By attacking other birds to steal theirs (correct)
• By digging burrows
• By diving from the air
• By storing food in tree holes

There it is the most aggressive ibis and attacks other birds to steal their food.

4. How big are scarlet ibis flocks, typically?

• Only a pair
• Five or six
• Exactly ten
• Thirty or more (correct)

They typically gather in flocks of thirty or more.

5. What do scarlet and white ibis hybrids look like?

• Pale orange, or white with orange feathers (correct)
• Pure black
• Bright blue
• Solid scarlet

Hybrids are pale orange, or white with a few orange feathers.

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