White-winged ibis

Lophotibis cristata

The white-winged ibis is one of the largest ground-dwelling birds in Madagascar. It has become very rare in the wild due to hunting.

Red List

Vulnerable

Breeding programme

The white-winged ibis inhabits forests throughout virtually the whole of Madagascar.

Like all ibises, it has a long, curved beak. It tirelessly probes the forest floor with it, searching for insects, insect larvae, worms, spiders and snails. If disturbed or threatened, it flies away noisily and perches on a branch near the treetops.

The white-winged ibis builds its nest, which can be up to 70 centimetres in diameter, on the lowest branches of trees. Both the female and the male incubate the two to three eggs.

Taxonomy

Threskiornithidae, Lophotibis (1 species)

Habitat

wet and dry forests up to 2,000 metres above sea level

Migratory behaviour

generally sedentary

Social structure

in pairs or in small groups

Taxonomy

Threskiornithidae, Lophotibis (1 species)

Habitat

wet and dry forests up to 2,000 metres above sea level

Migratory behaviour

generally sedentary

Social structure

in pairs or in small groups

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The white-winged ibis is one of the largest ground-dwelling birds in Madagascar. It has become very rare in the wild due to hunting.

Taxonomy

Habitat

Migratory behaviour

Social structure