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Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
IUCN Red List history
| Year | Category |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Least Concern |
| 2009 | Least Concern |
| 2008 | Least Concern |
| 2004 | Least Concern |
| 2000 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1994 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1988 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
Species attributes
| Migratory status | full migrant | Forest dependency | Does not normally occur in forest |
| Land mass type | Average mass | - |
Distribution
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) | 19,400,000 | medium |
| Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) | 21,600,000 | medium |
| Number of locations | - | |
| Fragmentation | - |
Population & trend
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of mature individuals | poor | Estimated | 2009 | |
| Population trend | Decreasing | - | ||
| Number of subpopulations | - | - | - | |
| Largest subpopulation | - | - | - | |
| Generation length (yrs) | 6.7 | - | - | - |
| Trend justification: The overall population trend is decreasing, although some populations have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2006). This species has undergone a large and statistically significant increase over the last 40 years in North America (3800% increase over 40 years, equating to a 150% increase per decade; data from Breeding Bird Survey and/or Christmas Bird Count: Butcher and Niven 2007) Note, however, that these surveys cover less than 50% of the species's range in North America. | ||||
Country/Territory distribution
| Country/Territory | Occurrence status | Extinct | Breeding | Non-breeding | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Albania | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Algeria | Native | No | |||
| Angola | Native | No | |||
| Anguilla (to UK) | Native | No | |||
| Antigua and Barbuda | Native | No | |||
| Armenia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Aruba (to Netherlands) | Native | No | |||
| Australia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Austria | Vagrant | No | |||
| Azerbaijan | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Bahamas | Native | No | |||
| Bahrain | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Bangladesh | Native | No | |||
| Barbados | Native | No | |||
| Belarus | Vagrant | No | |||
| Belgium | Vagrant | No | |||
| Belize | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Benin | Native | No | |||
| Bermuda (to UK) | Native | No | |||
| Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (to Netherlands) | Native | No | |||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Botswana | Native | No | |||
| British Indian Ocean Territory | Vagrant | No | |||
| Brunei | Vagrant | No | |||
| Bulgaria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Burkina Faso | Native | No | |||
| Burundi | Native | No | |||
| Cambodia | Native | No | |||
| Cameroon | Native | No | |||
| Canada | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Cape Verde | Vagrant | No | |||
| Cayman Islands (to UK) | Native | No | |||
| Côte d'Ivoire | Native | No | |||
| Central African Republic | Native | No | |||
| Chad | Native | No | |||
| China (mainland) | Native | No | |||
| Cocos (Keeling) Islands (to Australia) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Colombia | Native | No | |||
| Congo, The Democratic Republic of the | Native | No | |||
| Costa Rica | Native | No | |||
| Croatia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Cuba | Native | No | |||
| Curaçao (to Netherlands) | Native | No | |||
| Cyprus | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Czech Republic | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Denmark | Vagrant | No | |||
| Djibouti | Native | No | |||
| Dominica | Native | No | |||
| Dominican Republic | Native | No | |||
| Ecuador | Native | No | |||
| Egypt | Native | No | |||
| Eritrea | Native | No | |||
| Estonia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Ethiopia | Native | No | |||
| Faroe Islands (to Denmark) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Fiji | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Finland | Vagrant | No | |||
| France | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Gabon | Native | No | |||
| Gambia | Native | No | |||
| Germany | Vagrant | No | |||
| Ghana | Native | No | |||
| Gibraltar (to UK) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Greece | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Guadeloupe (to France) | Native | No | |||
| Guinea-Bissau | Native | No | |||
| Haiti | Native | No | |||
| Honduras | Native | No | |||
| Hong Kong (China) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Hungary | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Iceland | Vagrant | No | |||
| India | Native | No | |||
| Indonesia | Native | No | |||
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Iraq | Native | No | |||
| Ireland | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Israel | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Italy | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Jamaica | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Jordan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kazakhstan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kenya | Native | No | |||
| Kuwait | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kyrgyzstan | Vagrant | No | |||
| Latvia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Lebanon | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Lesotho | Vagrant | No | |||
| Liberia | Native | No | |||
| Libya | Native | No | |||
| Luxembourg | Native | No | |||
| Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of | Native | No | |||
| Madagascar | Native | No | |||
| Malawi | Native | No | |||
| Malaysia | Native | No | |||
| Maldives | Vagrant | No | |||
| Mali | Native | No | |||
| Malta | Native | No | |||
| Martinique (to France) | Native | No | |||
| Mauritania | Native | No | |||
| Mexico | Native | No | |||
| Moldova | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Montenegro | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Montserrat (to UK) | Native | No | |||
| Morocco | Native | No | |||
| Mozambique | Native | No | |||
| Myanmar | Native | No | |||
| Namibia | Native | No | |||
| Nepal | Native | No | |||
| Netherlands | Vagrant | No | |||
| New Caledonia (to France) | Vagrant | No | |||
| New Zealand | Vagrant | No | |||
| Niger | Native | No | |||
| Nigeria | Native | No | |||
| Norway | Vagrant | No | |||
| Oman | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Pakistan | Native | No | |||
| Palestinian Authority Territories | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Panama | Native | No | |||
| Papua New Guinea | Native | No | |||
| Philippines | Native | No | |||
| Poland | Vagrant | No | |||
| Portugal | Native | No | |||
| Puerto Rico (to USA) | Native | No | |||
| Qatar | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Romania | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Russia (European) | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Rwanda | Native | No | |||
| Saudi Arabia | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Senegal | Native | No | |||
| Serbia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Sierra Leone | Native | No | |||
| Singapore | Native | No | |||
| Sint Maarten (to Netherlands) | Native | No | |||
| Slovakia | Native | No | |||
| Slovenia | Native | No | |||
| Solomon Islands | Vagrant | No | |||
| Somalia | Native | No | |||
| South Africa | Native | No | |||
| South Sudan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Spain | Native | No | |||
| Sri Lanka | Native | No | |||
| St Kitts and Nevis | Native | No | |||
| St Lucia | Native | No | |||
| St Pierre and Miquelon (to France) | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | Native | No | |||
| Sudan | Native | No | |||
| Swaziland | Native | No | |||
| Sweden | Vagrant | No | |||
| Switzerland | Vagrant | No | |||
| Syria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Tajikistan | Native | No | |||
| Tanzania | Native | No | |||
| Thailand | Native | No | |||
| Timor-Leste | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Togo | Vagrant | No | |||
| Trinidad and Tobago | Native | No | |||
| Tunisia | Native | No | |||
| Turkey | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Turkmenistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK) | Native | No | |||
| Uganda | Native | No | |||
| Ukraine | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| United Arab Emirates | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| United Kingdom | Vagrant | No | |||
| USA | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Uzbekistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Venezuela | Native | No | |||
| Vietnam | Native | No | |||
| Virgin Islands (to UK) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Virgin Islands (to USA) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Yemen | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Zambia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Zimbabwe | Native | No |
Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria
| Country/Territory | IBA Name | IBA link |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Alligator Rivers Floodplains |  |
| Australia | Arafura Swamp | |
| Australia | Cooper Floodplain Below Windorah | |
| Australia | Mandora Marsh and Anna Plains | |
| Azerbaijan | Lake Mahmudchala | |
| Belize | Belize Coastal and near shore islands | |
| Bulgaria | Atanasovsko Lake | |
| Bulgaria | Belene Islands Complex | |
| Bulgaria | Chengene Skele | |
| Bulgaria | Kalimok Complex | |
| Bulgaria | Mandra-Poda complex | |
| Bulgaria | Srebarna | |
| Chad | Lake Chad | |
| Costa Rica | Maleku-Caño Negro | |
| Costa Rica | Palo Verde Wetlands | |
| Cuba | Delta del Cauto | |
| Cuba | Humedal Sur de Pinar del Río | |
| Cuba | Humedal Sur de Sancti Spiritus | |
| Cuba | Las Picuas-Del Cristo Cay | |
| Cyprus | Akamas Peninsula | |
| Cyprus | Akrotiri Peninsula - Episkopi Cliffs | |
| Ecuador | Ciénaga de La Segua | |
| Greece | Acheron delta and gorge | |
| Greece | Amvrakikos gulf | |
| Greece | Divari Pilou lagoon (Gialova) | |
| Greece | Evros delta | |
| Greece | Evrota delta | |
| Greece | Geropotamos estuary | |
| Greece | Kalamas estuary | |
| Greece | Kotychi lagoon | |
| Greece | Lake Kerkini | |
| Greece | Lake Mitrikou (Ismarida) | |
| Greece | Mesolongi and Aetoliko lagoons, and Acheloos and Evinos estuaries | |
| Greece | Porto Lagos, Lake Vistonis, and coastal lagoons (Lakes of Thrace) | |
| Greece | Schinias marsh | |
| Honduras | El Jicarito | |
| Hungary | Hortobágy and Tisza-to | |
| India | Kunthangulam Bird Sanctuary | |
| India | Narasambudhi Lake | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Arjan Protected Area | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Lake Bakhtegan, Lake Tashk and Kamjan marshes | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Lake Kobi | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Lake Uromiyeh | |
| Iraq | Baquba wetlands | |
| Israel | Jezre'el, Harod and Bet She'an valleys | |
| Israel | Zevulun valley | |
| Madagascar | Bemamba Wetland Complex | |
| Malawi | Lake Chilwa and flood-plain | |
| Mali | Koumbé Niasso | |
| Mali | Lac Débo - Lac Oualado Débo | |
| Mauritania | Gâat Mahmoûdé | |
| Mauritania | Lac d'Aleg | |
| Niger | Tillabéri roost | |
| Nigeria | Hadejia-Nguru wetlands | |
| Panama | Santa María Wetlands | |
| Romania | Balta Mică a Brăilei | |
| Romania | Balta Vederoasa | |
| Romania | Bistreţ | |
| Romania | Braţul Borcea | |
| Romania | Calafat - Ciuperceni - Dunăre | |
| Romania | Cârja - Maţa - Rădeanu - Roşcani | |
| Romania | Comana | |
| Romania | Confluenţa Jiu - Dunăre | |
| Romania | Danube Delta | |
| Romania | Dunăre - Ostroave | |
| Romania | Dunărea Veche (Braţul Măcin) | |
| Romania | Ianca - Plopul - Sărat | |
| Romania | Iezerul Călăraşi | |
| Romania | Ilfov reservoir | |
| Romania | Lake Beibugeac (Plopu) | |
| Romania | Lake Bugeac | |
| Romania | Lake Dunăreni | |
| Romania | Lake Oltina | |
| Romania | Lake Strachina | |
| Romania | Lake Tataru | |
| Romania | Ostrovu Lung - Gostinu | |
| Russia (European) | Burukshunskiye limans | |
| Russia (European) | Dadynskiye lakes | |
| Russia (European) | Kalausskiye floods | |
| Russia (European) | Kalininski Plavny | |
| Russia (European) | Kazachka | |
| Russia (European) | Kizlyar Bay | |
| Russia (European) | Lysyi Liman lake and valley of Vostochniy Manych river | |
| Russia (European) | Manychstroi area | |
| Russia (European) | Mouth of Yeya river | |
| Russia (European) | Prikumskiye steppes | |
| Russia (European) | Turali lakes | |
| Russia (European) | Varnavinsko-Kryukovskaya irrigation system | |
| Russia (European) | Veselovskoye reservoir | |
| Russia (European) | Western Ilmen area | |
| Saudi Arabia | Makkah waste-water stream | |
| Saudi Arabia | Malaki dam | |
| Senegal | Lac de Guiers | |
| Serbia | Dubovac-Ram | |
| South Sudan | Sudd (Bahr-el-Jebel system) | |
| Tanzania | Lake Rukwa | |
| Turkey | Akşehir and Eber Lakes | |
| Turkey | Ereğli Plain | |
| Turkey | Göksu Delta | |
| Turkey | Hotamış Marshes | |
| Turkey | Kızılırmak Delta | |
| Turkey | Meriç Delta | |
| Turkey | Sultan Marsh | |
| Uganda | Doho Rice Scheme | |
| Ukraine | Dnipro delta | |
| Ukraine | Dnister delta | |
| Ukraine | Karkinits'ka and Dzharylgats'ka bays | |
| Ukraine | Kugurluj and Kartal lakes | |
| Ukraine | Kytaj lake | |
| Ukraine | Syvash Bay | |
| Ukraine | Tyligul's'kyj lyman | |
| USA | Barrier Island and Lagoon System | |
| Uzbekistan | Aksay Lake and surrounding desert | |
| Uzbekistan | Khorezm Fish Farm and adjacent lakes | |
| Uzbekistan | Sudochye Lake | |
| Uzbekistan | Zholdyrbas Lake | |
| Vietnam | U Minh Thuong | |
| Zambia | Bangweulu Swamps | |
| Zambia | Kafue Flats | |
Habitats & altitude
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | Coastal Freshwater Lakes | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | Coastal Freshwater Lakes | suitable | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands | major | breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) | suitable | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) | suitable | breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) | suitable | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) | suitable | breeding |
| Altitude | 0 - 0 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
Threats & impact
| Threat (level 1) | Threat (level 2) | Impact and Stresses | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Future | Minority (<50%) | Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| |||||||||
Utilisation
| Purpose | Primary form used | Life stage used | Source | Scale | Level | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pets | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | International | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Food (human) | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Sport | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Plegadis falcinellus. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013.
This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Current IUCN Red List category | Least Concern |
| Family | Threskiornithidae (Ibises and spoonbills) |
| Species name author | (Linnaeus, 1766) |
| Population size | mature individuals |
| Population trend | Decreasing |
| Distribution size (breeding/resident) | 19,400,000 km2 |
| Country endemic? | No |
| Links to further information | |
|
- Summary information on this species - Climate change species distributions | |
|
|