California's Only Ibis Species at the Merced National Wildlife Refuge

The Merced National Wildlife Refuge never disappoints. There are always interesting birds to observe, even if the charismatic migrant cranes and geese are wandering about on other parts of the reserve. We only saw one on our recent trip, but a White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) is hard to ignore. For one, there is the ridiculous looking, but incredibly efficient beak. It's used for digging deep into the mud for crustaceans and worms.

And then there is the plumage. From a distance, it may look like some sort of dull green or brown, but in the right light, it takes on a colorful iridescence. The "white" refers to the sometimes white color right around the beak.

The White-faced Ibis ranges widely across the American West, seeking out any freshwater marshes. It is the only ibis found in the west. It closely resembles the Glossy Ibis of the southeast US and Florida, the minor differences probably the result of isolation. A year-round population also inhabits the southern part of South America.