Birds
Bare-faced Ibis
Phimosus infuscatus
Probing damp South American grassland with a long, curved bill, a bare-faced ibis reveals the reddish-pink skin around its face that gives the species its name, visible from a distance against otherwise dark plumage.
Overview
The bare-faced ibis, Phimosus infuscatus, is a Least Concern wading bird found across grassland and wetlands of central and eastern South America. Its bare reddish facial skin, glossy dark plumage, and habit of foraging in flocks across damp open ground make it a familiar sight across much of its range.
A specialized bill for hidden prey
Like other ibises, the bare-faced ibis relies on its long, downward-curved bill to feel for worms, insects, and other invertebrates hidden in soil and shallow water, a foraging technique that does not depend on seeing prey directly.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and common across suitable grassland and wetland habitat throughout its range.
Bare-faced Ibis: common questions
Why is it called the bare-faced ibis?
It shows bare, reddish-pink skin around the face, a feature that gives the species its common name and contrasts sharply with its otherwise dark, glossy plumage.
What does the bare-faced ibis eat?
It is a carnivore, using its long, downward-curved bill to probe soil and shallow water for worms, insects, and other small invertebrates.
Is the bare-faced ibis closely related to the black-faced ibis?
They belong to the same broader ibis family and share a similar probing feeding technique, but the bare-faced ibis has a smaller, darker build and a different, more easterly and tropical range within South America.
Does the bare-faced ibis live alone or in groups?
It commonly forages in small to medium flocks across open, damp ground, rather than foraging alone.