Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), Lake Havasu City WTP, Mohave County

This Glossy Ibis was found by David Vander Pluym on 20 May 2013 and photographed by Oscar Johnson on 23 May 2013

Casual to rare, but apparently increasing visitor to Arizona. Likely more regular than the few records suggest due to difficulty in picking them out of the more widespread and abundant White-faced Ibis flocks and the difficulty of separating them from hybrids. 

The thin bluish lines on the face (both above and below the facial skin), lack of bare skin behind the eye, no hint of reddish to the eye (i.e. all dark), and gray facial skin lacking any red tones, all indicate a Glossy Ibis rather than a hybrid with White-faced Ibis.

23 May 2013, photo by Oscar Johnson

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