Spot-breasted Ibis

The Fleckenibis ( Bostrychia rara ) is a species of bird in the family of ibises.

Features

The Fleckenibis is 46 to 50 inches tall and so the smallest of the genus Ibis Bostrychia. Characteristic is the ocher brown mottling of dark basic plumage on the chest and neck. The downwardly curved beak is dark red, the eye is a striking, bright spot. In the female the spots are less pronounced, the beak is shorter and paler red. The young birds resemble the female, with crested feathers on the back of the head.

Occurrence

The Fleckenibis has a relatively large distribution area in western and central Africa south of the Sahara, is out in Gabon and Congo but nowhere very common.

Habitat

Forest areas in the lowlands, always near water, marshes with dense vegetation, river bank, especially in the vicinity of river mouths.

Food and foraging

The food of Fleckenibis consists of insects and their larvae, worms, snails and their eggs, reptiles and amphibians. To foraging birds poking around in the soft ground or in shallow water of swamps or river banks. In general they are alone or in pairs on the go, usually on the day; in bright moonlight night and activity was observed.

Reproduction

The loosely -built and relatively small nests can be found on horizontal branches in trees at a height 1-6 m. Usually two eggs are incubated in 25 to 28 days. The young birds have initially a dark down dress that is after about six days, replaced by a more dense, white.