Pivot Fields, Dubai
December 2010

The Glossy Ibis is distributed in southern Europe, Africa, central and southern Asia, Australia and on the Atlantic coast of North America. It is found in wetlands mainly inland but also on the coast.

It is blackish with a long, decurved bill. In breeding plumage it is a dark purple-chestnut with green gloss on the wings. In non-breeding plumage, as shown here, it is a duller dark brown with head and neck streaked with fine white lines. In flight the legs extend well beyond the tail.

There is more information available via Avibase.