Madagascan ibis

Madagascan ibis
At Bronx Zoo, New York, United States
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Threskiornithidae
Subfamily: Threskiornithinae
Genus: Lophotibis
L. Reichenbach, 1853
Species: L. cristata
Binomial name
Lophotibis cristata
(Boddaert, 1783)

The Madagascan ibis (Lophotibis cristata), also known as the Madagascar crested ibis, white-winged ibis or crested wood ibis, is a medium-sized (approximately 50 cm long), brown-plumaged ibis. It has bare red orbital skin, yellow bill, red legs, white wings and its head is partially bare with a dense crest of green or gloss blue and white plumes on the nape. The Madagascan ibis is the only member of the genus Lophotibis.

The Madagascan ibis is endemic to the woodlands and forests of Madagascar. Its diet consists mainly of insects, spiders, frogs, reptiles, snails and invertebrates. The female usually lays three eggs in platform nest made from twigs and branches.

Due to ongoing habitat loss, limited range and overhunting in some areas, it is evaluated as near threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

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