White Ibis can be strange looking birds to people who have never seen them before. They have soft, sky blue eyes, skinny legs, long necks and a bill that could be compared to Jimmy Durante’s nose. The adults have white feathers hence the name White Ibis.

Adult White Ibis, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, FloridaAdult White Ibis – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/500, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light

There are three other Ibis species found in North America, the White-faced, Glossy and Scarlet Ibis. In the wild I have seen them all.

I photographed this adult White Ibis at Fort De Soto County Park‘s north beach in a tidal lagoon one evening in June of 2009. The sun was starting to set and the tide was going out rapidly.

Juvenile White Ibis, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, FloridaJuvenile White Ibis – Nikon D200, handheld, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 330mm, natural light

Juvenile White Ibis have the same shaped body, legs, neck, and bill and their eyes are also a sky blue but their feather colors are different. Immature White Ibis have brown, white and tan feather colors in their plumage and as they age those feathers are replaced with white. Immature White Ibis can look piebald until that change occurs.

This juvenile White Ibis was photographed in December of 2008 about 200 feet from where the adult above was photographed in the same lagoon but earlier in the afternoon so I didn’t have that soft golden light that shows in the image with the adult.

Have a great day,

Mia

Click here to see more of my White Ibis photos plus facts and information about this species.