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A Dash of Scarlet?
The Bosun

A Dash of Scarlet? (Threskiornis molucca)

Had a brief visit to our local patch today. Among others in residence was this one White Ibis on an island in the middle of the lake. We have seen it there before and I thought an opportunity may exist for an in-flight capture, as it does not usually stay there long. As is usual, it decided to fly at the moment I looked away.

Although not the best capture, I was interested in the under wing skin line. My reference sources say that when non-breeding, the line is pink, but goes scarlet when breeding. Looks scarlet to me, however, the Ibis also have pale yellow neck plume when breeding, which I cannot see.
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Habitat
Observed in all but the driest habitats. Preferred habitats include swamps, lagoons, floodplains and grasslands, but it has also become a successful inhabitant of urban parks and gardens.
Location
West Beach, South Australia
Date taken
10th April 2010
Scientific name
Threskiornis molucca
Equipment used
Sony a200 mm75-300
Rose Fletcher
I've found that it doesn't pay to believe everything the books say Eric, I sometimes wonder how much time some of the authors have really spent observing the birds they write about.

I have lots of Ibises, they come and laze around my back yard every day..they keep their scarlet underwings year round, and not all of them grow neck plumes. Some of them develop yellow feathers on their tails, but this is also an individual thing, some prefer to keep their tail feathers white. Some of them develop bright pink spots on the black skin at the nape of their necks, others don't. Most of them have a reddish tinge on their legs, and white 'chalk marks' on the front of the legs and toes, but this varies a lot too...can be anywhere from very bright to barely noticeable.

The two things that do seem to apply to all of them is that they go bald during the breeding season, and they develop an overlay of black lacy feathers on their rumps. This bird still hasn't grown feathers back on its head for winter, so it's probably still partially in breeding plumage, and may never have had neck plumes...although the 'black lace' feathers have gone...or were never there. I haven't seen one that didn't have the lace feathers, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen; this is a very variable species.
 
madamcoolpix
Oh, wow, Rose has spoken "like an open book" (as we say in Spain)... this girl and her knowledge never stop to amaze me!!! o:)

Now your flight shot of the Ibis is well documented, Eric!!! ;) Loads of thanks for sharing your encounter with this handsome guy!!! :t: :t: :t:
 
ammadoux
WOW Eric and Rose you both gave a fantastic reading and you Eric gave us this lovely image, yes i do think that book are not 100% right in many things. i like to believe what i see or what i have wrote in my notes in the past years.
 

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Category
Asia, Australia & Pacific Islands
Added by
The Bosun
Date added
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Comment count
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