Spot-breasted Ibis
Encyclopedia
The Spot-breasted Ibis (Bostrychia rara) is a species of bird
and is a member of the order Ciconiiformes and the family Threskiornithidae. It is a wading bird that lives is swampy forested areas and is found in tropical regions. Its preference for dense rainforests in tropical Africa means that it is seldom seen and is vulnerable to deforestation.
, Cameroon
, Central African Republic
, the Republic of the Congo
, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea
, Gabon
, Ghana
, Guinea
, Liberia
, Nigeria
, Sierra Leone
, and Uganda
. Although it is found across a wide range of territory is it not common and considered to be rare. In the areas where it is found it is a resident of that area, this means as a species they do not migrate and they live there all year long. Its habitat is in wooded swamps or forested areas near streams.
The Spot-breasted Ibis, like other ibises, has long legs and a long bill. They also have a crest at the back of their head. Unlike other ibises they have a short neck. Their wing length is 270-290, their bill length is 115-130 and their tarsus length is 56-65. Their plumage varies but appears to be most commonly brownish – blue. A small, dark ibis, the best distinguishing feature is suggested by its name; the buff-spotted neck and breast is diagnostic. Otherwise, the upperparts are uniformly dark, with blue skin surrounding the eyes (smaller in females). Flying birds can be distinguished by their broad wings and short tail. The juvenile is duller, and has a shorter crest. To view a picture of them you may follow the external link at the bottom of the page.
The Spot-breasted Ibis is most closely related to the four other members of the genus Bostrychia, Olive Ibis
, São Tomé Ibis, Hadada Ibis
and Wattled Ibis
, which are also all restricted to sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, the Spot-breasted Ibis is closely related to the Olive Ibis
and São Tomé Ibis, and these three species are sometimes placed into their own genus, Lampribis. There are no recognized subspecies of the Spot-breasted Ibis.
; they are born with blackish-brown down that is replaced at six days by thicker white down.
http://www.planetofbirds.com/ciconiiformes-threskiornithidae-spot-breasted-ibis-bostrychia-rara
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
and is a member of the order Ciconiiformes and the family Threskiornithidae. It is a wading bird that lives is swampy forested areas and is found in tropical regions. Its preference for dense rainforests in tropical Africa means that it is seldom seen and is vulnerable to deforestation.
Habitat and Distribution
The Spot-breasted Ibis is found in AngolaAngola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, Central African Republic
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
, the Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where the capital Malabo is situated.Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the...
, Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, and Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. Although it is found across a wide range of territory is it not common and considered to be rare. In the areas where it is found it is a resident of that area, this means as a species they do not migrate and they live there all year long. Its habitat is in wooded swamps or forested areas near streams.
Description and Taxonomy
Ibises are known to have a rounded body with long legs and a long S-shaped neck. There are 30 different species worldwide and they all show variations on the same body form. Some are crested and some are bald behind their heads.The Spot-breasted Ibis, like other ibises, has long legs and a long bill. They also have a crest at the back of their head. Unlike other ibises they have a short neck. Their wing length is 270-290, their bill length is 115-130 and their tarsus length is 56-65. Their plumage varies but appears to be most commonly brownish – blue. A small, dark ibis, the best distinguishing feature is suggested by its name; the buff-spotted neck and breast is diagnostic. Otherwise, the upperparts are uniformly dark, with blue skin surrounding the eyes (smaller in females). Flying birds can be distinguished by their broad wings and short tail. The juvenile is duller, and has a shorter crest. To view a picture of them you may follow the external link at the bottom of the page.
The Spot-breasted Ibis is most closely related to the four other members of the genus Bostrychia, Olive Ibis
Olive Ibis
The Olive Ibis is a species of bird in the Threskiornithidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania.- References : Database entry includes...
, São Tomé Ibis, Hadada Ibis
Hadada Ibis
The Hadada or Hadeda Ibis, Bostrychia hagedash, is an ibis found in Sub-Saharan Africa.-Appearance:The Hadeda is a large , dark brown ibis with a white "moustache", glossy greenish purple wings, a large black bill with a red stripe on the upper mandible, and blackish legs.-Call:It has a...
and Wattled Ibis
Wattled Ibis
The Wattled Ibis is a species of bird in the Threskiornithidae family. It is endemic to the Ethiopian highlands and is found only in Ethiopia and Eritrea.-Description:...
, which are also all restricted to sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, the Spot-breasted Ibis is closely related to the Olive Ibis
Olive Ibis
The Olive Ibis is a species of bird in the Threskiornithidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania.- References : Database entry includes...
and São Tomé Ibis, and these three species are sometimes placed into their own genus, Lampribis. There are no recognized subspecies of the Spot-breasted Ibis.
Behavior
Spot-breasted Ibises are difficult to observe because they are usually silent and solitary. When disturbed, they are often flushed from the ground to a nearby perch, where they remain silent. They are best located at dusk and dawn as they call in flight.Vocalization
Usually silent and furtive when feeding on the ground. At dawn and dusk birds call in flight, giving a loud, raucous "ha-han".Diet
Spot-breasted Ibis are omnivorous and feed on some plant material, along with various small crustaceans and insects. Invertebrates consumed include grubs, worms, aquatic snails, larvae and a variety of beetles. Usually diurnal, although occasionally feeds at night by moonlight. Away from roosting sites, most individuals feed alone or in pairs. Like other ibises, the Spot-breasted Ibis probes through the mud in swamps and along banks of forest rivers and streams.Reproduction
The nests of the Spot-breasted Ibis are usually found about on tree branches 1-6 meters above ground or above water. They are solitary nesters. They generally lay 2 eggs at a time. Reproduction occurs throughout the year, except during long dry seasons when water levels are too low. For example, in Gabon birds laid in all months except July and August, with peaks in March-May and September-December. The peaks corresponded to the local rainy seasons. Incubation takes about 20 days. Chicks are independent about 40 days after hatch. As with other ibises, chicks are semi-altricialAltricial
Altricial, meaning "requiring nourishment", refers to a pattern of growth and development in organisms which are incapable of moving around on their own soon after hatching or being born...
; they are born with blackish-brown down that is replaced at six days by thicker white down.
Conservation
Like many other birds in the Guineo-Congolian region the Spot-breasted Ibis is subject to habitat loss and fragmentation. Deforestation has destroyed much of the dense rain forest these birds prefer. Hunters have also had a negative impact on the success of this species. For example, fishermen are known to take nestlings. Nonetheless, the spcies is considered not globally threatened.External Links
To view a picture you can follow this external link or it there is one in the book Birds of Eastern Africahttp://www.planetofbirds.com/ciconiiformes-threskiornithidae-spot-breasted-ibis-bostrychia-rara