Description:

A small dark, slender ibis with relatively thin-based curved bill and long thin legs. Adult breeding deep chestnut, glossed with purple and green; has narrow white surround to bare lores. Adult non-breeding duller, with white streaking on dark brown head and neck. Juvenile similar to adult non-breeding.

Distribution:

Uncommon passage migrant through the eastern parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, mainly Baltistan. Found near freshwater marshes, lakesides, rivers with surrounding vegetation, reeds, paddyfields and mudflats. From lowlands up to 3500m.

Behavior:

Forages by walking slowly and probes bill into mud and shallow water, or takes prey from surface; sometimes submerges head completely, and occasionally runs after prey. Diet comprises mainly adult and larval insects, including aquatic beetles, boatmen, dragonflies, flies, grasshoppers, crickets and caddisflies; also worms, leeches, molluscs, and crustaceans; sometimes small vertebrates.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Glossy Ibis in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Glossy Ibis

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.