Black-headed Ibis

Threskiomis melanocephalu

Beak

—

Feet

—

Crest

No crest

Widespread resident; unrecorded in parts of E India and NW subcontinent. Stocky, mainly white ibis with stout downcurved black bill. Adult breeding has naked black head. white lower-neck plumes. variable yellow wash to mantle and breast. and grey on scapulars and elongated tertials. in flight, shows stripe of bare redsk in on underside of white forewing and on flanks. Adult non-breeding has all-white body and lacks neck plumes. Immature has grey feathering on head and neck, and black-tipped wings. Habits similar to Glossy ' s. Freshwater marshes, tanks, lakes. rivers. flooded grassland, paddy-fields. tidal creeks and mudflats, saltmarshes and coastal lagoons.