Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae) · Pelecaniformes (Pelecaniformes)
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Often mixed up with
In quizzes, players most often confuse Glossy Ibis with these birds— either this species was picked by mistake, or the other way around.
| Species | Mix-ups |
|---|---|
| Purple Heron Ardea purpurea | 3 |
| White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi | 3 |
| Grey Heron Ardea cinerea | 2 |
| White Ibis Eudocimus albus | 2 |
| African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus | 2 |
Family
The family Threskiornithidae includes 35 extant species of large wading birds, and one more that became extinct in historical times. The family has been traditionally classified into two subfamilies, the ibises and the spoonbills; however, recent genetic studies have cast doubt on this arrangement, and have found the spoonbills to be nested within the Old World ibises, and the New World ibises as an early offshoot. These studies found two major clades within the family, a widespread clade that includes …
Order
The Pelecaniformes are an order of medium-sized and large waterbirds found worldwide. As traditionally (but erroneously) defined, they encompass all birds that have feet with all four toes webbed. Hence, they were formerly also known by such names as totipalmates or steganopods.