| The White Ibis is mainly white, with black tail feathers and black skin on the bare neck and head. It has a long, narrow, black bill which curves downward at the tip. During flight, narrow scarlet patches of skin can be seen on the underwing.
The White Ibis is often seen feeding in paddocks on beetles and grubs and are welcome visitors to farmers’ paddocks. In urban areas, however they live mainly by scrounging and often have grubby plumage as they forage in rubbish tips and garbage bins. Breeds on islands in Port Phillip Bay and may be seen in skeins overhead moving backwards and forwards between the breeding colony and feeding grounds, from July to December. They usually feed on small aquatic animals such as fish, frogs, freshwater crayfish. Also crickets, beetles and earthworms. They will also scavenge for human scraps. |
