{"id":52171,"date":"2018-05-19T05:20:55","date_gmt":"2018-05-19T11:20:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=52171"},"modified":"2025-09-25T13:04:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T18:04:11","slug":"white-faced-ibis-in-breeding-and-nonbreeding-plumage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/05\/19\/white-faced-ibis-in-breeding-and-nonbreeding-plumage\/","title":{"rendered":"White-faced Ibis in Breeding and Nonbreeding Plumage"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"White-facedWhite-faced Ibis in breeding plumage all fluffed up (May 2018) –\u00a0 Nikon D500, f6.3, 1\/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

In just a few weeks the White-faced Ibis that are in breeding plumage (Definitive Alternate Plumage) right now will begin to molt into their nonbreeding plumage (Definitive Basic Plumage) and I thought this might be a good time to show some of the differences.<\/p>\n

I took this photo of a White-faced Ibis three days ago at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge<\/span><\/a> while I was showing my mother the birds I photograph at the refuge this time of the year. There were several White-faced Ibis close enough to take photos of that were foraging in the shallow water of the marshes.<\/p>\n

In breeding plumage (aka\u00a0Definitive Alternate Plumage) White-faced Ibis have carmine colored legs,\u00a0 the lores, eyelids and bare skin of the chin also become bright carmine. The chest, vent, thighs, scapulars, mantle, neck and head are a dark chestnut color that is tinged with purple on the forehead, neck, chin and crown. A continuous narrow band of white feathers borders the bill, lores, chin, bill and eyes. The feathers that are metallic greens, purples, bronzy greens, pinks appear more richly or vividly colored in breeding plumage.<\/p>\n

\"White-facedWhite-faced Ibis in nonbreeding plumage preening at Bear River (Aug 2017) –\u00a0 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light <\/span><\/p>\n

In nonbreeding plumage (aka Definitive Basic Plumage) White-faced Ibis have olive gray legs, the lores, eyelids and bare skin around the chin lack the carmine coloration.<\/p>\n

White-faced Ibis in nonbreeding plumage lack the white feathers on the face. Their necks, crowns and head are dark with some dull light to white streaking and their scapulars, mantles, vents and chest are a dull dusky brown as opposed to the brighter chestnut color seen in breeding plumage.<\/p>\n

Whether they are in breeding or nonbreeding plumage I enjoy photographing the White-faced Ibis that make their homes in the marshes surrounding the Great Salt Lake while they are here to mate, nest and rear their young.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my White-faced Ibis photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In just a few weeks the White-faced Ibis that are in breeding plumage right now will begin to molt into their nonbreeding plumage and I thought this might be a good time to show some of the differences. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":158014,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[124,27,1148,26,1372],"tags":[4030,4053,5606,4642,3035,3721,5148,4094,4246,1373,313,4340],"class_list":["post-52171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge","category-avian","category-box-elder-county-utah","category-utah","category-white-faced-ibises","tag-breeding","tag-breeding-plumage","tag-definitive-alternate-plumage","tag-definitive-basic-plumage","tag-fluffy","tag-ibis","tag-ibises","tag-marsh","tag-nonbreeding-plumage","tag-plegadis-chihi1","tag-wading-birds","tag-white-faced-ibis"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/white-faced-ibis-fluffy-mia-mcpherson-0702.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-dzt","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":67408,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/03\/27\/adult-white-faced-ibis-in-breeding-plumage\/","url_meta":{"origin":52171,"position":0},"title":"Adult 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2013","format":false,"excerpt":"There isn't much of a change between the plumage in breeding and nonbreeding White Ibis, primarily the differences are in the legs, bill and lores.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"White Ibis adult in nonbreeding plumage, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/white-ibis-nonbreeding-mia-mcpherson-4000.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/white-ibis-nonbreeding-mia-mcpherson-4000.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/white-ibis-nonbreeding-mia-mcpherson-4000.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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