Where does the Bare-faced Ibis live?
Phimosus infuscatus
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Open the appThe Bare-faced Ibis lives in specific habitats and regions. Knowing where, and when, to look improves your chances of a successful sighting.
Biomes
Tropical and subtropical grasslands, marshes, swamps, wet pastures, rice fields, and the edges of rivers and lakes.
Geographic range
South America, including parts of Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northern Argentina.
Preferred environments
Prefers open, shallow-water wetlands, often with some emergent vegetation. Frequently found foraging in flooded fields, mudflats, and seasonally inundated savannas.
Elevation range
Primarily found in lowlands, from sea level up to approximately 500 meters (1,640 ft), occasionally higher in some Andean valleys.
Where to look
Wetlands
Search in marshes, swamps, and along the edges of slow-moving rivers and lakes.
Flooded Fields
Frequently found foraging in rice paddies, wet pastures, and seasonally flooded agricultural areas.
Mudflats
Look for them probing in exposed mudflats, especially during dry seasons when water levels recede.
Colonies
During the breeding season, locate large colonial nesting sites, often in trees or dense reedbeds over water.
Field tips
- Scan Open Wetlands. Bare-faced Ibises prefer open, shallow-water environments. Use binoculars to scan across large expanses of wetlands and flooded fields.
- Look for Flocks. They are highly gregarious. Spotting one often means there are others nearby. Look for groups foraging together or flying in V-formations.
- Observe Foraging Behavior. Watch for their characteristic probing action, sweeping their decurved bills through soft mud or shallow water.
- Listen for Calls. Their guttural, croaking calls can often alert you to their presence, especially when they are flying or in large roosts.
- Visit During Rainy Season. Their distribution and abundance can be linked to water levels; the rainy season often expands suitable foraging habitat.
Migration
Primarily resident throughout its range, but local movements and seasonal dispersal occur in response to rainfall patterns and food availability. Some populations may undertake short-distance migrations.
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