{"id":57580,"date":"2019-05-03T05:29:59","date_gmt":"2019-05-03T11:29:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=57580"},"modified":"2025-09-25T15:13:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T20:13:17","slug":"white-faced-ibis-perched-on-cattails","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/05\/03\/white-faced-ibis-perched-on-cattails\/","title":{"rendered":"White-faced Ibis Perched On Cattails"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PerchedPerched White-faced Ibis in breeding plumage – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

I haven’t seen or photographed White-faced Ibis perched in the nearly ten years that I have lived here so I was thrilled to have my first opportunity to do so yesterday at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge<\/span><\/a>. I usually see this ibis species in flight, on the ground or foraging in the water.<\/p>\n

There were other White-faced Ibis in the area where I spotted this ibis that were actively foraging but this one really stood out to me because it was perched near the top of old cattail growth while the other ibis were on the ground and partially hidden because of the vegetation.<\/p>\n

This White-faced Ibis is in Definitive Alternate Plumage (breeding plumage) and the iridescent colors of its plumage seemed to glow in the morning light.<\/p>\n

\"White-facedWhite-faced Ibis perched on cattails in the marsh – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

The spring growth behind the ibis and the weathered cattail stalks added a nice feeling of springtime to each image that I took.<\/p>\n

I was concerned that the ibis might lift off and that I would clip wing tips if the ibis took flight so I quickly removed my 1.4x TC just in case.<\/p>\n

\"PerchingPerching White-faced Ibis at Bear River MBR – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR , natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

To my surprise the ibis didn’t lift off and fly away instead it dove straight down into the cattails and disappeared from my sight. My images of it diving into the cattails were anything but sharp because I was expecting the bird to go up into the sky not down into the ground. Birds do what they want to do when they want to do it.<\/p>\n

I made the best choice though when I removed the teleconverter because had the ibis lifted off into the sky I would have had some lovely photos of it in flight. I was happy to photograph this perched White-faced Ibis and add it to my portfolio.<\/p>\n

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

Mia<\/p>\n

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

I haven’t seen or photographed White-faced Ibis perched in the nearly ten years that I have lived here so I was thrilled to have my first opportunity to do so yesterday at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":158051,"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":[4053,4366,5606,3721,5148,4094,4104,1373,4340],"class_list":["post-57580","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-plumage","tag-cattails","tag-definitive-alternate-plumage","tag-ibis","tag-ibises","tag-marsh","tag-perched","tag-plegadis-chihi1","tag-white-faced-ibis"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/white-faced-ibis-perched-mia-mcpherson-7400.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-eYI","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":57580,"position":0},"title":"Adult White-faced Ibis In Breeding Plumage","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 27, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"When White-faced Ibis are in breeding plumage it is easy to see how they got their common name, in nonbreeding plumage, not so much.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Perched adult White-faced Ibis in breeding plumage, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/white-faced-ibis-breeding-plumage-mia-mcpherson-7409.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/white-faced-ibis-breeding-plumage-mia-mcpherson-7409.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/white-faced-ibis-breeding-plumage-mia-mcpherson-7409.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/white-faced-ibis-breeding-plumage-mia-mcpherson-7409.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47871,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/08\/02\/white-faced-ibis-at-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/","url_meta":{"origin":57580,"position":1},"title":"White-faced Ibis at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 2, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge was calling me yesterday morning and I answered that call and photographed several White-faced Ibis from the auto tour route.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"White-faced Ibis wing lift, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/white-faced-ibis-stretching-mia-mcpherson-0657.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/white-faced-ibis-stretching-mia-mcpherson-0657.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/white-faced-ibis-stretching-mia-mcpherson-0657.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/white-faced-ibis-stretching-mia-mcpherson-0657.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57380,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/04\/22\/white-faced-ibis-with-a-wet-head-at-bear-river-mbr\/","url_meta":{"origin":57580,"position":2},"title":"White-faced Ibis With A Wet Head At Bear River MBR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"This White-faced Ibis had been feeding in the shallow water and had gotten its head soaking wet right before I photographed it and the ibis was in the process of getting ready to shake the water from its head feathers.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"White-faced Ibis with a wet head, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/white-faced-ibis-wet-head-mia-mcpherson-0703.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/white-faced-ibis-wet-head-mia-mcpherson-0703.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/white-faced-ibis-wet-head-mia-mcpherson-0703.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/white-faced-ibis-wet-head-mia-mcpherson-0703.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51811,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/04\/24\/white-faced-ibis-birds-of-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/","url_meta":{"origin":57580,"position":3},"title":"White-faced Ibis – Birds Of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 24, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"White-faced Ibis are abundant at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge during their breeding season and they can be easily seen from the 12 mile, self-guided auto tour route feeding in the water impoundments or flying in loose flocks overhead.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult White-faced Ibis in breeding plumage, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/white-faced-ibis-foraging-mia-mcpherson-2339.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/white-faced-ibis-foraging-mia-mcpherson-2339.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/white-faced-ibis-foraging-mia-mcpherson-2339.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/white-faced-ibis-foraging-mia-mcpherson-2339.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":38673,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/04\/23\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge-white-faced-ibis\/","url_meta":{"origin":57580,"position":4},"title":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge White-faced Ibis","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 23, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"For weeks I have been seeing White-faced Ibis fly overs and yesterday I had my first opportunity to photograph them for the year at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Box Elder County White-faced Ibis at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in northern Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/white-faced-ibis-bear-river-mia-mcpherson-2468.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/white-faced-ibis-bear-river-mia-mcpherson-2468.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/white-faced-ibis-bear-river-mia-mcpherson-2468.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/white-faced-ibis-bear-river-mia-mcpherson-2468.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52171,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/05\/19\/white-faced-ibis-in-breeding-and-nonbreeding-plumage\/","url_meta":{"origin":57580,"position":5},"title":"White-faced Ibis in Breeding and Nonbreeding Plumage","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"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.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"White-faced Ibis in breeding plumage all fluffed up, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/white-faced-ibis-fluffy-mia-mcpherson-0702.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/white-faced-ibis-fluffy-mia-mcpherson-0702.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/white-faced-ibis-fluffy-mia-mcpherson-0702.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/white-faced-ibis-fluffy-mia-mcpherson-0702.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57580"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57580\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}