54 HERODIONES: Herons, Storks, Ibises, etc. 



HERODIONES (Heron-like birds) : This Order is represented 

 in North America by four families of which three occur regularly 

 in our region, while the fourth, PLATALEID^E (Spoonbills), 

 has been recorded rarely in southwestern United States. The 

 THRESKIORNITHIDyE (Family Ibises) have long, slender, 

 curved bills. They are waders in habit, dwellers in fresh-water 

 marshes and pond borders; feed on insects, snails, small fishes, 

 tadpoles, etc.; nest in large colonies, in tule growth. Only three 

 species occur in the United States, one ranging to the Pacific 

 coast. 



WHITE-FACED GLOSSY IBIS 



(187. Plegadis guarauna) 22 in. 



Adults: Rich cinnamon-brown, back and wings metallic green 

 and bronzy; white about eye and base of bill. Bill long, curved. 

 At a distance the bird appears all black. 



Immatures: Lack the bronzy; neck and head brown, white- 

 edged; brown below. 



Gregarious in habit. A flock in flight, strung out " single 

 file," with head and neck held low, is an impressive sight. 



FAMILY WOOD IBISES 

 WOOD IBIS 



(188. Mycteria americana) 40 in. 



Adults: White, with black primaries and tail; head and upper 

 neck bare. Bill long, curved. 



Immatures: Like adults, but head and upper neck sparsely 

 feathered brown, becoming sooty on back of head; lower neck 

 grayish. 



A bird of unusually distinctive characters, impossible to 

 confuse with any other occurring in this region. 



In muddy water feeds by feeling with open bill. 



