Scarlet Ibis

Latin Names: Eudocimus ruber

Range and habitat: Tropical wetlands, lagoons, and estuaries from Florida through the Caribbean and into Venezuela and Brazil.

Captive/Wild Lifespan: Up to 25 years.

Incubation: 19– 23 days.

Diet: Carnivore-Fish, invertebrates (insects and crustaceans) and frogs.

Adaptations: Long curved bill used to probe mud in search of food.

IUCN Status: Least Concern 2012

Conservation: Population trends are decreasing but there is currently no specific conservation efforts for this species.

Did you Know: This is one of the most striking of all the Ibis species. They get their color from the carotene which is in the food they eat. Fossils of Ibis have been tracked back 60 Million years. It is the national bird of Trinidad and is featured on the Trinidad and Tobago coat of arms.

Here at the CMC Zoo: Usually found in the tree tops or on the waterfall inside the World of Birds. One Scarlet Ibis was hatched here at the Zoo and raised in the aviary by its parents. Our oldest Scarlet Ibis was hatched in 1993 and came from Busch Gardens.