Plegadis chihi
Silhouette: Mathieu Pélissié · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
The white-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi) is a wading bird in the ibis family, Threskiornithidae. This species breeds colonially in marshes, usually nesting in bushes or low trees. Its breeding range extends from southwestern Canada and the western United States south through Mexico, as well as from southeastern Brazil and southeastern Bolivia south to central Argentina, and along the coast of central Chile. Its winter range extends from southern California and Louisiana south to include the rest of its breeding range.
In its non-breeding plumage, the white-faced ibis is very similar to the glossy ibis except that it tends to be slightly smaller and its plumage has a somewhat warmer color. Breeding adults have a pink, bare face bordered with white feathers (rather than a bluish bare face with no bordering feathers), a grey bill, and brighter-colored, redder legs. Adults have red eyes year-round, whereas glossy ibises have dark eyes. Juveniles of the two species are nearly identical.
Measurements: Length: 18.1–22.1 in (46–56 cm) Weight: 15.9–18.5 oz (450–525 g) Wingspan: 35.4–36.6 in (90–93 cm) The white-faced ibis occurs in Canada, the United States... Wikipedia →
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | León | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 2 | Mexico City | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 3 | Toluca | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 4 | Rosario | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 5 | Curitiba | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 6 | Los Angeles | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Porto Alegre | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 8 | Monterrey | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 9 | Tijuana | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 10 | Buenos Aires | 🇦🇷 Argentina |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prague Zoo | 🇨🇿 Czechia | |
| 2 | Parc des oiseaux | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 3 | Living Desert Zoo and Gardens | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Columbus Zoo and Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Phoenix Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Oregon Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Zoológico Benito Juárez | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 8 | L'Oceanogràfic | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 9 | Chilean National Zoo | 🇨🇱 Chile | |
| 10 | Tracy Aviary | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 11 | Aquarium of the Pacific | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 12 | Rákosův pavilon | 🇨🇿 Czechia | |
| 13 | Velemlokárium | 🇨🇿 Czechia |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a White-faced Ibis sighting in Chicago on a given day, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 137th most-seen of the 314 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a White-faced Ibis in Chicago on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 7 and 10 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most White-faced Ibis sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
17th of 32
Of the 32 cities where we can rate White-faced Ibis sightings, Chicago ranks 17th at under 5%. The best odds are in León (México, about 30%), Mexico City (México, about 20%) and Toluca (México, about 20%).
Same order: Pelecaniformes
The closest relatives of the White-faced Ibis that you can see in Chicago (order Pelecaniformes, Pelicans, Herons, Ibises, and Allies) are Great Blue Heron (about 20%), Black-crowned Night Heron (about 10%) and Green Heron (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the White-faced Ibis is recorded against all the birds logged in Chicago (7 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
