Medium sized wader (about 65 cm or 25.5 in) in the ibis family. Very characteristic long and downcurved bill, ocher or flesh colour (darker in winter). It has fine white lines on the neck and base of the bill during the breeding period. Brown plumage, with metallic green tones on the wings and oxide colour on the back. Long and dark legs.
Wetlands
Shallow open water wetlands, especially freshwater, and very productive. Typical inhabitant of rice fields. It requires high vegetation of reeds and tamarisk in the border of the wetland.
Species present in the province in migratory passage and occasionally as a wintering bird. Colonial. Nest in tamarisk and reeds. Several layings of 3 to 6 eggs. This wader forages in groups. It feeds on insects, amphibians and invertebrates in general.
It can be watched in the mouth of the Guadalhorce and occasionally in the Fuente de Piedra lagoon.
In ancient Egypt they venerated the god Dyehuty, possessor of great wisdom and knowledgeable of all the arts. This God had a Glossy Ibis head. This species was very scarce in Andalusia until pests of invasive species began to appear, such as the Golden Apple Snail or the Red Swamp Crawfish, on which the Glossy Ibis has begun to feed. Maybe it is actually wise, but what is certain is that it is a great ally against these species.
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