Sharp-tailed Ibis
A species of Sharp-tailed Ibis Scientific name : Cercibis oxycerca Genus : Sharp-tailed Ibis
Sharp-tailed Ibis, A species of Sharp-tailed Ibis
Botanical name: Cercibis oxycerca
Genus: Sharp-tailed Ibis
Content
Description General Info
Description
This relatively large ibis measures 75–86 cm in length, with males being slightly larger than females. In adult males, the flat wing measures 390-415mm lengthways and the culmen measures 156-168mm from the base of the bill. In adult females, the wing is 376-413mm long and the culmen 144-197mm. This ibis is distinguished by its notably long tail, which is the longest among all extant ibis species; measuring 250-301mm in males and 256-272mm in females. The tail projects beyond the tips of the folded wings when the ibis stands; and beyond the trailing legs in flight. The plumage is predominantly black with greenish glossing; and with purplish tinges on the upper back, hind neck, wings and tail. The forehead and cheek region are occasionally greyish brown. Juveniles appear similar to adults, but their plumage lacks a metallic sheen. The bill, legs, toes and bare facial skin are orangey red; the throat is yellowish orange; and a feathered grey strip extends below the eye from the lower mandible. An inconspicuous fuzzy crest extends down the back of its head and upper neck. The iris is greyish red, but is sometimes scarlet red, which may be associated with breeding. Nothing is however known of changes in soft part colourations as part of courtship. Overall, the sharp tailed ibis is superficially similar to many sympatric ibses such as the glossy ibis and the bare-faced ibis; but clearly differs through its longer tail and larger body size. This ibis is particularly vocal. The call is a loud, distinct single or double Cuk or Turuck; or “kut” and “kut-kaaaoh”. These calls resemble the sound of a saxophone or toy trumpet. Flight calls have been described as a long drawn-out “tuuut”, as a Cuk Cuk Cuk Cuk and as a loud nasal TUUR-DEE. The male is believed to utter the TUUR element, and the female utters the following DEEE in response. The timbre of the TUUR-DEE call has earned it the local Spanish name “Tarotaro”. The sharp-tailed ibis has a slow, laboured flight; with individuals flying low above the ground and often only covering short distances such as between neighbouring trees. However, they have been observed to fly across wide open expanses of grassland toward roosting or feeding sites. Due to its noisy wing beating, it is often heard before coming into view. 
Size
86 cm
Feeding Habits
Sharp-tailed Ibis forages in moist soil, mud, and marshy areas for medium-sized insects, occasionally amphibians, crustaceans, earthworms, and snails. Prefers morning activity with tactile probing in dry-season microhabitats, and migrates to higher altitudes during wet seasons.
Habitat
The sharp-tailed Ibis is typically found in diverse wetland environments. It thrives in savannas adjacent to aquatic features such as lakes, pools, rivers, and streams, as well as open, marshy areas. The species adapts to anthropogenic landscapes, including muddy rice fields and damp grasslands. During the wet season, it may also extend its foraging into inundated forests. This bird usually occupies lowland regions.
Dite type
Omnivorous
General Info
Distribution Area
The sharp-tailed ibis inhabits wet lowland savannas and riverbanks of northern South America east of the Andes, at less than 300-500m above sea level. It is native to Venezuela, eastern Colombia, southwestern Guyana, Brazil and Suriname. In Venezuela, it is typically found along or near the Orinoco and Apure rivers. In the llanos of eastern Colombia, it is found along the Casanare and Cravo Sur rivers, as well as the Colombian stretch of the Apure. In Brazil, it often occurs to the northwest of the Amazon and frequents the grasslands near to the Rio Negro and Rio Branco. However, it is also present to the west near Rio Guanco and to the south in northwest Mato Grosso. This ibis also sometimes uses gallery forests in which to roost and breed. This ibis is patchily distributed throughout its global range and despite a relatively large total population; it is generally uncommon on a local scale and is considered to be the least numerous ibis species in the Venezuelan llanos. It is however more abundant there during the rainy season. It does not associate with other wading bird species, being often largely distanced from its heterospecifics. It is primarily found in male-female pairs and in small intraspecific groups comprising three to five individuals. Despite this ibis's territoriality, individuals very rarely forage alone. The two individuals of a dyad differ markedly in body size, which suggests that they constitute a paired male and female given the differences in biometrics between the sexes. The groups of more than two individuals appear to comprise a paired male and female along with their juvenile offspring. In observations of flocks of three, the individual assumed to be the offspring is notably smaller with less developed facial colourations.
Species Status
Despite this ibis's infrequent occurrence in its savannah habitat, the population appears to have remained stable since the early 20th century; There have been no trade records of this species, and the global population is not considered to be threatened generally. The world population has been estimated at 10,000–25,000 individuals, with 6700-17000 of these being mature. The sharp-tailed ibis has been evaluated by the IUCN as Least Concern since 2004 because this bird does not approach Vulnerable under the population trend and range size criteria. Nevertheless, this species could potentially decline unnoticed due to its solitary lifestyle and hence the potential difficulty in detecting individuals during population monitoring. Further information on its basic biology and ecology is required to safeguard it against appreciable future population declines.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Pelicans and Relatives Family
Ibises and spoonbills Genus
Sharp-tailed Ibis Species
Sharp-tailed Ibis 
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