| Black-faced ibis | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Pelecaniformes |
| Family: | Threskiornithidae |
| Genus: | Theristicus |
| Species: | T. melanopis |
| Binomial name | |
| Theristicus melanopis (Gmelin, 1789) | |
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Nonbreeding Yearound Breeding | |
| Synonyms | |
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Theblack-faced ibis (Theristicus melanopis) is a species ofbird in the familyThreskiornithidae. It is found ingrassland and fields in southern and westernSouth America. It has been included as asubspecies of the similarbuff-necked ibis, but today all major authorities accept thesplit. The black-faced ibis also includes theAndean ibis (T. branickii) as a subspecies. Some taxonomic authorities (including theAmerican Ornithological Society) still do so.
The black-faced ibis wasformally described in 1789 by the German naturalistJohann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition ofCarl Linnaeus'sSystema Naturae. He placed it in thegenusTantalus and coined thebinomial nameTantalus melanopsis.[2] Gmelin based his description on the "black-faced ibis" that had been described and illustrated in 1785 by the English ornithologistJohn Lathamin his bookA General Synopsis of Birds. Latham had based his account on a specimen in theLeverian Museum and on drawings in the collection of the naturalistJoseph Banks.[3][4]Georg Forster mentioned seeing these birds in January 1775 on "New Year's Island" (now Isla Observatorio) nearStaten Island in his account ofJames Cook'ssecond yoyage to the Pacific.[5] The black-faced ibis is now one of four South American ibises placed in the genusTheristicus that was introduced by the German naturalistJohann Georg Wagler in 1832.[6][7] The genus name is from theAncient Greektheristikos meaning "of reaping". The specific epithetmelanopis combines the Greekmelas meaning "black" with-ōpis meaning "faced".[8] The species ismonotypic: nosubspecies are recognised.[7]
It has a total length of approximately 75 centimetres (30 in). The head, neck and lower chest arebuffish, the crown and nape are cinnamon, the upperparts and (often incomplete) chest-band are grey, the belly andflight feathers are black, and thewing-coverts are whitish (though not contrasting strongly with the grey upperparts). Thebill, throat-wattle and bare skin around the eyes are blackish and the legs are red.
The similar buff-necked ibis is almost entirely restricted to warm regions, has contrasting large white wing-patches, a dark grey (not buff) lower chest, and itsthroat-wattle is smaller than in the black-faced ibis.
The black-faced ibis is mainly found in southern South America, ranging throughout most of southern and centralArgentina andChile, where it occurs from sea-level to an altitude of approximately 2,500 metres (8,200 ft). It also occurs very locally in coastalPeru. While it remains fairly common in Argentina and Chile, this species has now been almost entirelyextirpated from the Peruvian part of its range.
Overall the species is not threatened, and consequently assignedLeast Concern by theIUCN.
