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Scientific Name: |
Eudocimus ruber
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Range: |
Caribbean Islands to northern South America
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Habitat: |
Freshwater temperate and tropical regions including rain forests, mud flats, shallow bays and marshes.
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Natural Diet: |
Crustaceans, fish, insects, frogs, small reptiles, seeds and fruit. Occasionally carrion
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Zoo Diet: |
Bird of prey diet, fish food pellets, chopped smelt and vitamins
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Physical
Characteristics:
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Predominately red feathered body 22-30 inches long from tip of bill to tip of tail. Tail is short and stubby. Color is bright red in both sexes with black tipped feathers. The bill is thin and curved downward. The neck is long and slender. Legs are long and thin with slightly webbed feet.
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Behavior: |
Often congregate in large groups, especially at breeding time. Long legs and webbed feet are used for wading. The long beak is used to probe into mud for food.
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Reproduction: |
Both male and female construct the nest. Often, the male will collect nest materials while the female builds it. The female lays 2-5 dull green eggs streaked with brown. Incubation lasts for 19-23 days. Both parents incubate and care for the young.
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Notes:
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The brilliant red color of the scarlet ibis comes from pigments in the bodies of the crustaceans that it eats.
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