The ibis is a long-legged wading bird belonging to the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. There are 28 different species of ibis that can be found across the world, mostly residing in warmer climates. The most widespread ibis species is the sacred ibis which can be found across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Australia. Other well-known ibis species include the scarlet ibis, glossy ibis, Australian white ibis, and straw-necked ibis. Ibises typically inhabit wetland habitats like marshes, mudflats, and shorelines, using their long curved bills to probe for food like insects, crustaceans, small amphibians and reptiles. Their distinctive downward-curving bills give them a unique silhouette in flight. While ibises may be found across several continents today, most species are native to particular regions.
Where is the Sacred Ibis Native To?
The sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) is native to sub-Saharan Africa, though it has established feral populations in other parts of the world. Its natural range stretches across Africa below the Sahara desert, primarily in marsh and wetland habitats. Some of the key countries the sacred ibis is native to include:
- Nigeria
- Ethiopia
- Sudan
- Chad
- Mali
- Senegal
- Gambia
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Botswana
- Zimbabwe
- South Africa
The sacred ibis has also been introduced outside of Africa in some regions, including parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Australia where it has formed feral breeding populations. However, it is not native to these regions. The semi-arid wetlands and marshes of sub-Saharan Africa remain the natural habitat of the sacred ibis.
Native Range of the Scarlet Ibis
The brilliant scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) mainly resides in tropical South America. Its natural habitat spans the following key countries:
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Venezuela
- Guyana
- Suriname
- French Guiana
In these regions, scarlet ibises primarily nest in mangrove swamps. They also forage in marshes, mudflats, and shorelines. Outside of the breeding season, scarlet ibises may migrate along the coasts of Central America and the Caribbean. However, their core native range remains the wetlands of northeastern South America.
Where Glossy Ibises Live
The glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) can be found across much of the world, but is native to these main regions:
- Southern Europe
- Africa
- Asia
- Australia
Within these continents, some specific countries and habitats that glossy ibises naturally inhabit include:
- Coastal marshes of Portugal and Spain in Europe
- Freshwater wetlands of Turkey, Iraq, and Iran in the Middle East
- Flooded grasslands of Mali, Chad, and Egypt in Africa
- Marshes and lakesides of India, China, and Indonesia in Asia
- Wetlands of Northern Australia
The glossy ibis may migrate or disperse widely depending on wetland conditions, but maintains core breeding populations across these native ranges.
Australian White Ibis Range
As the name suggests, the Australian white ibis (Threskiornis molucca) is endemic to Australia. Its natural habitat range concentrates along the eastern and northern coasts of Australia including:
- Queensland
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- Northern Territory
Here they inhabit freshwater wetlands, estuaries, mudflats, and urban areas. The Australian white ibis may also be found in southern New Guinea, but it is not native to that island. This species remains primarily concentrated across eastern mainland Australia.
Native Distribution of the Straw-necked Ibis
The straw-necked ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis) is a close relative of the Australian white ibis, and is similarly endemic to Australia. Its main native range includes:
- Northern and eastern Australia
- New Guinea
- Indonesia
- New Zealand
In Australia, straw-necked ibises breed in both inland and coastal wetlands from South Australia up to the northern tropics. The southern reaches of New Guinea, nearby Indonesian islands, and parts of New Zealand also form part of their core habitat range.
Other Native Ibis Species
While the species described represent some of the most widespread ibises, there are over two dozen recognized ibis species around the world, each with their own native ranges. A few other examples include:
- The giant ibis is native to wetlands across Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos in Southeast Asia.
- The black-headed ibis breeds in wet fields and marshes of South and Southeast Asia, especially India, Pakistan and Indonesia.
- The olive ibis is endemic to the islands of Madagascar and Aldabra.
- The puna ibis is found across the Andean regions and Pacific coast of South America from Ecuador to Chile.
There are also species with more restricted ranges like the crested ibis in East Asia, the green ibis limited to Indonesia, and Mrs. Moreau’s ibis only found in the Amazon rainforest. Overall, the family demonstrates a diverse range across the wetlands of the world.
Conclusion
Ibises are a widespread family of wetland birds found natively on every continent except Antarctica. Different ibis species have adapted to marshy habitats across sub-Saharan Africa, tropical South America, southern Europe, Asia, Australia, and many islands. The most cosmopolitan species like the sacred and glossy ibises have natural ranges spanning multiple continents. Meanwhile, other ibises are restricted to narrower endemic areas. But most ibises share a reliance on freshwater and estuarine wetlands, where their distinctive beaks allow them to probe amphibians, aquatic invertebrates, and other food. Understanding where the different ibis species naturally originated from provides insight into how they have adapted to and rely on wetland ecosystems around the world.
