English           -            Bare-faced ibis

Portuguese    -            Tapicuru-de-cara-pelada

Latin                -            Phimosus infuscatus

The bare-faced ibis, also known as the whispering ibis, is a species of bird in the Threskiornithidae family of birds.

The Bare-faced ibis is either dark drown or a blackish color. It is called the bare-faced ibis because it does not have any feathers on its face. It has a long Decurved bill that’s pinkish to reddish brown. The skin on its face is usually a redish color and it also has long orangely colored beak with pink legs. The total length of the ibis ranges between 45 and 50 cm.  

The Bare-Faced ibis are usually seen in large flocks of their own species or with other species of ibis, sometimes even found with domestic animals. They are not very territorial towards other ibis birds, and rarely found alone, but most of the time the aggression is shown from food robbery from another ibis or animal. Regarding sexual behavior, the Bare-Faced ibis is less aggressive amongst other species of ibis. The males have a larger bill than the females relative to their body sizes, and sexual selection is not as intense as it is in other species. They share nests with other species as well.

The Bare-faced Ibis is widespread in South America, occurring in Ecuador, Colombia, Guyana, Surinam, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Urugay and Argentina. It prefers habitats like marshes, wet meadows, rice fields, savannahs and similar open habitats.

They forages in most soil and along the edges of standing water. The diet consists of insects, worms, clams, and other small invertebrates. Flocks will also follow cattle and horses to capture invertebrate prey flushed by these animals.

The Bare-faced Ibis usually breeds in small colonies; relative to other ibises, it exhibits an intermediate degree of coloniality. Colonies ranging from few individuals up to 20 pairs with breeding dates from August through December. They shares nesting habitats with other avian species with which it may compete intensely for nesting sites. Bare-faced Ibises nest in dense shrubs in brushy savanna, and in thickets of trees and shrubs surrounding lagoons. They place their nests on small, stunted trees, or in the lower parts of trees or shrubs, where they build a platform made of branches. Nests are rude structures, almost flat and relatively small for the size of the bird, not exceeding 35.5 cm in diameter. They lay from one to eight eggs. Nests constructed in the center of a breeding colony tend to have larger clutches than nests in the periphery of the colony. Eggs are lightly colored, between green and blue, similar to those of a heron. Incubation takes from 21 to 23 days and is performed by both males and females. Nestlings fledge three weeks after hatching. 

Because the Bare-faced ibis is associated with wetlands, the species may be affected by various human activities. The abuse of ecosystem services such as water regulation, water supply or water treatment as byproducts of recreational activities in wetlands results in habitat degradation and disturbance. Consequently, birds associated to wetlands may be displaced as an effect of sound disturbance created by cars, motorboats and other watercraft. The presence of people close to water bodies and shorelines is also a determinant factor in the displacement of species. Perhaps most importantly, wetlands in many areas are increasingly facing destruction due to urbanization and pollution, posing a threat to the flora and fauna associated to these habitats. In saying all that, the Bare-faced Ibis is classified as “of Least Concern” species for the time being. Because the species has broad distribution, it is not considered to be under any current or looming threat. In addition, populations of this species are large and appear to be stable through time, suggesting they are generally in good condition.

Both photos of the Bare-faced ibis were taken at Parque Barigui - Curitiba - Parana