Madagascar Crested Ibis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Madagascar Crested Ibis | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||||||||||||
| Conservation status | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Lophotibis cristata (Boddaert, 1783) |
The Madagascar Crested Ibis, Lophotibis cristata also known as the White-winged Ibis or Crested Wood Ibis, is a medium-sized (approximately 50cm 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 Madagascar Crested Ibis is the only member in the genus Lophotibis.
The Madagascar Crested 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, the Madagascar Crested Ibis is evaluated as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of threatened Species.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2006). Lophotibis cristata. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2007. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is near threatened
