Long-Legged WADERS of Africa
The long-legged waders are comprised of the egrets, herons, ibises, spoonbills, storks, and flamingos. They are a diverse group, united by their long legs that enable them to wade for food. The egrets and herons are in the Ardeidae family, while the ibises and spoonsbill belong to Threskiornithidae. These two families belong to the same order and it is considered by some to be the same order as the storks (Ciconiiformes), but DNA information is prompting them to be moved to a different order. The flamingos belong to their own order, Phoenicopteriformes.
Ibis
Order Ciconiiformes disputed Family Threskiornithidae
Ibises and spoonbills are closely related. Their most striking difference is in bill shape, with the ibises having curved bills and the spoonbills having straight bills that are broad at the end. Ibises use their bills to probe in mud, while spoonbills move their side to side in the water to catch prey. At night they roost in trees that are near and often overhanging water.
Genus Bostrychia
Ibis, Hadada Bostrychia hagedash Found: Asia, Africa
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - South Africa 2) Dick Daniels - South Africa 3) Dick - Tanzania
Ibis, Wattled Bostrychia carunculata Found: Ethiopia and Eritrea
Photographed by: 1, 2) Colleen Taugher 3) Veli
Genus Geronticus
Ibis, Northen Bald aka Waldrapp Ibis Geronticus eremita Found: Africa (mainly Morocco)
Photographed by: 1, 2) Trisha Shears - the Louisville Zoo 3) Dezidor
Ibis, Southern Bald Geronticus calvus Found: southern Africa
Photographed by: 1) Sarefo - Cologne Zoo, Germany 2) Dick Daniels - Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo
3) Dick Daniels - Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo 4) Dick - San Diego Zoo
5) Dick - San Diego Zoo 6) Sandy Cole - San Diego Zoo
Genus Lophotibis- 1 species
Ibis, Madagascar Crested Lophotibis cristata Endemic to Madagascar
P1) Eric Savage at the Bronx Zoo, USA 2) Joe - Bronx Zoo
3) Dick Daniels - San Diego Zoo 4) Dick - San Diego Zoo
Genus Plegadis
Ibis, Glossy Plegadis falcinellus Found: The Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia
The Glossy Ibis and White-faced Ibis are quite similar in appearance and behavior, especially in nonbreeding season. The White-faced Ibis is found only in the Americas, so there should not be identification problems in other parts of the world.
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4) Alan D. Wilson near The Visitor's Center, Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, California
5) Dick - Flamingo Gardens, Florida 6) Dick - Flamingo Gardens, Florida
1) Breeding 2, 3) Nonbreeding
Genus Threskiornis
Ibis, Sacred Threskiornis aethiopicus Foumd: Africa Introduced: Europe
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - Flamingos Wildlife Reserve in Las Vegas. 2) Dick - World of Birds, South Africa
3) Steve Garvie - Mida Creek, Kenya 4) Charlie Westerinen - the Okavango Delta in Botswana
All photos on this site are available for general use. Please credit the photographer. Some images have additional constraints such as no commercial use or no modifications. Click the photo credit link for details. Dick Daniels, webmaster.