Black-headed Ibis

Taxobox
name = Black-headed Ibis
status = NT | status_system = IUCN3.1


image_width = 200px
image_caption = Black Headed Ibis, Thol, Gujarat, India
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Ciconiiformes
familia = Threskiornithidae
genus = "Threskiornis"
species = "T. melanocephalus"
binomial = "Threskiornis melanocephalus"
binomial_authority = (Latham, 1790)

The Black-headed Ibis ("Threskiornis melanocephalus") is a species of wading bird of the ibis family Threskiornithidae which breeds in South Asia and Southeast Asia from Pakistan to India, Sri Lanka east up to Japan. It builds a stick nest in a tree and lays 2–4 eggs.

It occurs in marshy wetlands inland and on the coast, where it feeds on various fish, frogs and other water creatures, as well as on insects.

Adults are typically 75 cm long and white-plumaged, with some greyer areas on the wings. The bald head, the neck and legs are black. The thick curved bill is dusky yellow. Sexes are similar, but juveniles have whiter necks and a black bill.

References

* Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is near threatened
* Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp; "Birds of India". ISBN 0-691-04910-6