# White Ibis

Scientific name: 

Bird group: [threskiornithidae](https://birdsofpuertorico.com/family/threskiornithidae)

Canonical source: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/bird/172/White-Ibis

## Distribution and habitat

The White Ibis occurs from the Southeastern United States 
through northern South America 
including the West Indies 
(Raffaele and others 1998). It is 
described as a rare visitor and 
breeder in Puerto Rico (Oberle 
2018). No records for this 
species are recorded for Vieques 
(Gemmill 2015). Before the early 
2000s, it was a rare visitor but 
has since become established 
locally in the north coast near 
Arecibo and has expanded east 
and west along coastal wetlands. 
Habitat includes freshwater 
swamps, saltwater lagoons, and 
rice fields (Raffaele and others 
1998). The atlas fieldwork yielded a total of six records 
within six hexagons or 1.2 
percent of the 479 total hexagons 
(see map). Of the six hexagons 
where this species was found, 
breeding met the atlas definition 
of confirmed in 17 percent 
(one) of the hexagons, while 
the species was observed in 83 
percent (five) of the hexagons 
but without evidence of breeding 
(see map).White Ibis distribution. The map shows the highest breeding code by hexagon and overlaying the ecological life zones in 
Puerto Rico. Note: percentages may not total 100 due to rounding. 

## Breeding

Previously published reports indicate that the White Ibis 
breeds from April to September, 
and the nesting is colonial 
(Raffaele and others 1998). The 
nest is made of twigs and grasses       163White Ibis/Ibis Blancoand is usually constructed high in mangroves above water 
(Raffaele and others 1998). Atlas 
results show that this species 
breeds in June and within the 
subtropical moist forest life zone 
(see chart). Atlas results show 
that this species breeds in the 
subtropical moist forest life zone 
(100 percent of the hexagons) 
(see table and map).

## Conservation

The current global population trend of the White Ibis is 
described as stable, although 
some populations have unknown 
trends (Wetlands International 
2012). This species is currently 
listed as a species of least 
concern by the IUCN (BirdLife 
International 2016). Locally, this 
species is not listed in any of the threatened categories of PRDNER 
and USFWS. In Puerto Rico, 
the White Ibis has a protected 
habitat in land of 25 percent or 
6 km2 of the total area covered by the hexagons where evidence 
of breeding was found for this 
species (24 km2).

Photo: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/static/images/webp/in_172_Im0.png.webp

Distribution map: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/static/images/webp/in_172_Im1.png.webp

Source note: Text is reproduced from this site's published record. Historical conservation statements and taxonomy have not been independently revalidated. See https://birdsofpuertorico.com/about for source credits and limitations.