Birds
Puna Ibis
Plegadis ridgwayi · also called puna ibises
Wading through a high Andean wetland thousands of metres above sea level, a puna ibis probes the mud with a long, curved bill, its dark plumage catching a flash of iridescent green and purple whenever the light shifts.
Overview
The puna ibis, Plegadis ridgwayi, is a Least Concern bird native to wetland and mountain habitat across the high Andes of Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. Its tolerance for extreme high-altitude wetlands, its glossy iridescent plumage, and its habit of breeding in mixed colonies make it one of the more altitude-specialised ibis species found anywhere in the world.
An ibis that thrives where the air runs thin
While most ibis species stay within warmer lowland wetlands, the puna ibis has instead pushed its breeding range onto some of the highest wetlands in the Andes, tolerating conditions that would be unfamiliar to nearly all of its lower-altitude relatives.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and generally stable across suitable high-altitude wetland habitat throughout the Andes.
Puna Ibis: common questions
Why is the puna ibis notable among ibis species?
This species is found at some of the highest elevations of any ibis species in the world, breeding on Andean wetlands thousands of metres above sea level.
What does the puna ibis look like?
This species has glossy dark plumage that catches an iridescent sheen of green and purple in good light, a pattern typical of its wider ibis genus.
Does the puna ibis breed alone or with other birds?
This species often breeds in mixed colonies alongside other waterbirds, taking advantage of the same productive high-altitude wetland sites across the Andes.
How does the puna ibis find its food?
This species uses its long, downward-curving bill to probe soft mud and shallow water for hidden aquatic invertebrates and small fish.