English             -            Plumbeous Ibis

Portuguese     -            Curicaca-real

Latin                -             Theristicus caerulescens

The Plumbeous Ibis was quite a common sight when we stayed in the Pantanal - Mato Grosso do Sul. All of the above photos were taken on different days and in different locations. Seemed to be quite an approachable species and would tolerate you as long as you didn’t get to close. A species you could observe for a while if you desired. It was really easy to find the Plumbeous Ibis as the water level in the Pantanal was low as it was the dry season and all the animals tend to stick around the ponds that are there. In the wet season everything is flooded and the animals are more widely dispersed. 

* The Plumbeous Ibis is a large bird with a length of 77 cm and a wing length of 45 cm.

* It utters a rapid series of cackles from the nest-site or when perched “ti ti ti ti – tu tu tu tu – ti ti –tu tu tu tu…” descending in the second half of the phrase. It also utters cackles while foraging “kuk-kuk…kuk-kuk…kuk-kuk”, also used between mates as a contact call. 

* It is found in Bolivia, Central Brazil, Paraguay, Northern Argentina and Uruguay. 

* The Plumbeous Ibis frequents lagoons, dams and seasonally flooded areas, rice fields, ponds and marshes. it is an open country species, found in pastures, grassland and savannah. It can be seen up to 600 metres of elevation.

* Its diet mainly consists of insects, aquatic invertebrates, molluscs, and apple snails.

* Unlike many other ibises, the Plumbeous Ibis is a non-colonial breeder.

* The female lays 2-3 creamy-white eggs which are Incubated for 28 days. 

* The chicks are semi-altricial. They have straight bill which curves as the chick grows. 

* The Plumbeous Ibis is an uncommon species, but is locally common within its range. Its numbers in some parts of its range seem to be increasing. Therefore the the Plumbeous Ibis is classified as a species ”of least concern”.