Scarlet Ibis Natural History
Size
These are long slender birds reaching 75cm (30 inches) in height with a wingspan of 30cm (1ft).
Habitat and Distribution
They inhabit lagoons, estuaries and the coastal areas of the Caribbean and South America including in Argentina, Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago.
Age
The Scarlet Ibis has a lifespan of roughly 20 years.
Diet
They use their long curved bill to find small, crustaceans and insects in the mud flats and water’s edge. Their bright red colouring comes from their colourful shellfish diet- just like a flamingo’s does.
Groups and Breeding
These birds nest in large colonies (up to 5000 pairs have been recorded on some coasts), building nests of twigs in trees and shrubs. They lay between three and five eggs which are incubated for up to 23 days in between the heavy rain season and dry season.
The feathers on a young Scarlet Ibis are greyish brown and only become scarlet after a couple of years.
Threats
The Scarlet Ibis is classified as least concern by the IUCN although their population is decreasing in the wild. Threats include being hunted for food and use in the pet trade.
Interesting Facts
They are the only shorebird with red feathers.
They are the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Scarlet Ibis During Your Day Out in Kent
Wingham Wildlife Park is home to eight Scarlet Ibis. They are a young group so their bright red feathers are still coming through. You can currently visit them with our small primates opposite the walk-through lemur enclosure- they share the outside enclosure with our Red Handed Tamarins.