THE glossy ibis is a locally common to rare ibis distributed almost worldwide, but absent from the dry western parts of South Africa. They like shallow inland waters and neighbouring wet grasslands.

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These ibis are solitary or in groups of up to 40 birds and are seen foraging in mud while walking slowly. They roost communally in trees or on the ground. Flight is buoyant and graceful, often in a V formation.

Food preference is for insects, crustaceans, worms, molluscs, fish, frogs and small reptiles.

Usually silent they have a croaking graa – graa – graa in flight and a gull like kok – kok – kok at the nest.

Breeding is from September to March. The nest is a compact platform of twigs and reeds built in trees, bushes or reeds. Two to three bright blue to blue-green eggs are laid. Incubation is 20 to 23 days, and the nestling period is about 21 days. They can fly after 42 days.

The Afrikaans name is glansibis.

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