Definitions for: Ibis


[n] wading birds of warm regions having long slender down-curved bills



Webster (1913) Definition: I"bis, n. [L. ibis, Gr. ?; of Egyptian origin.]
(Zo["o]l.)
Any bird of the genus Ibis and several allied genera, of
the family Ibid[ae], inhabiting both the Old World and the
New. Numerous species are known. They are large, wading
birds, having a long, curved beak, and feed largely on
reptiles.

Note: The sacred ibis of the ancient Egyptians ({Ibis
[AE]thiopica}) has the head and neck black, without
feathers. The plumage of the body and wings is white,
except the tertiaries, which are lengthened and form a
dark purple plume. In ancient times this bird was
extensively domesticated in Egypt, but it is now seldom
seen so far north. The glossy ibis ({Plegadis
autumnalis}), which is widely distributed both in the
Old World and the New, has the head and neck feathered,
except between the eyes and bill; the scarlet ibis
(Guara rubra) and the white ibis (G. alba) inhabit
the West Indies and South America, and are rarely found
in the United States. The wood ibis ({Tantalus
loculator}) of America belongs to the Stork family
(Ciconid[ae]). See Wood ibis.

See Also: family Ibidiidae, family Threskiornithidae, Ibis ibis, sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopica, Threskiornithidae, wader, wading bird, wood ibis, wood stork

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