Zoolung Animals

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Scarlet Ibis

The scarlet ibis's red feathers become more vivid as it ages. It is said that the feathers are red mainly due to a pigment called astaxanthin found in the crustaceans they eat. Newborn chicks are featherless, but their feathers gradually turn brown and then, as they grow older, become red like their parents. Their beaks are long and slender, curving downward, and they use them to probe soft mud or shallow water in search of food.

Category

Ciconiiformes Ardeidae
Habitat

Rainforests, wetlands, savannas, lakes
Diet

Fruits, insects, frogs, crustaceans, fish, etc.

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Species

Colorful Waterbird

A bird belonging to the ibis family, it is famous for its bright red plumage and is one of the symbols of the Caribbean region.

Place of discovery

The northern coast of South America

It is found in the coastal regions of northern South America, including Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and Colombia.

Habitat

Tidal flats, mangrove forests, lagoons

It is primarily found in coastal mudflats, mangrove forests, mudflats at river mouths, and shallow lagoons.

Diet

Carnivorous (crustaceans)

It mainly feeds on small aquatic animals such as crabs, shrimp, insects, and fish.

Action

Derived from food

The red feathers derive their color from carotenoids found in the crustaceans they eat, and are pale in color when they are young.

Average size

Length: 55–63 cm

The body length is approximately 55–63 cm, and there is little difference in size between males and females.

Features

Social and gregarious

They live in huge flocks of hundreds or more and mainly use their long beaks to stir up the shallow water in search of food.

Lifespan

16 years in the wild, 20 years in captivity

In the wild, they can live for about 16 years, and in captivity, they can live up to 20 years.