Eudocimus ruber

Overview

Animal Diversity Web describes long legs and neck, a thin downcurved bill and blue-black wing tips. Adults share red plumage across sexes, while young birds are dull grey-brown with pale underparts. Foraging involves probing shallow water or pecking soil for crustaceans and other aquatic prey.

The French museum attributes the bright feather colour to dietary carotenoids, including those obtained through crustaceans. It records colonies in tropical marshes, mangroves and river mouths, with elevated nests and movements between coastal feeding places and inland wetlands. Colour thus reflects biological nutrition rather than a uniform painted surface.

Olmos and Silva e Silva studied a southeastern Brazilian colony during 1996–97. Synchronous nesting occurred in successive pulses; early nests were more successful. Predation dominated losses in the first pulse, whereas storm-related nest collapse dominated the second. This colony’s calendar and productivity cannot be assumed for every population.

Origins & earliest records

Museum natural history and a named colony study separate broad biology from local observations.

Evidence & interpretation

The breeding study follows one season and distinguishes causes of failure between nesting pulses.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Eudocimus ruber

   Katherine Phelps · 2004

2. 02

   Ibis rouge

   Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle

3. 03

   Breeding biology and nest sites

   Olmos and Silva e Silva · 2001

Family, evolution & connections

Taxonomic classification

A hierarchy of classified groups, not a chain of direct ancestors.

Source note: Family placement follows the university account; its older order arrangement is not reproduced.

1. ClassAves
2. FamilyThreskiornithidae

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. University natural historyEudocimus ruberResearch access: 2026-10-11
2. Museum natural historyIbis rougeResearch access: 2026-10-11
3. Retained primary abstractBreeding biology and nest sitesResearch access: 2026-10-11

Image credits

AI scarlet ibis with slender downcurved bill and dark wing tips.

AI scientific interpretation of an imagined adult scarlet ibis.