Ibis
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[Photo] Straw-necked Ibis, Threskiornis spinicollis. Phot by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Tannin and released into the public domain.

Ibises (pronounced "EYE-bis-es") are a group kof long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae. They all have long down curved bills, and usually feed as a group, probing mud for food items, usually crustaceans. Most species nest in trees, often with spoonbills or herons.

The word ibis comes from Greek, originally borrowed from Ancient Egyptian h??b.

Folklore
The Sacred Ibis was also an object of religious veneration in ancient Egypt, particularly associated with the god, Thoth. At the town of Hermopolis, ibises were reared specifically for sacrificial purposes and in the Serapeum at Saqqara, archaeologists found the mummies of one and a half million ibises and hundreds of thousand of falcons. (cf. "The Way to Eternity: Egyptian Myth", Time-Life Books, Duncan Baird Publishers, 1997, pages 66-67)

Species in taxonomic order

Genus Threskiornis
Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus
Madagascar Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis bernieri
R??union Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis solitarius extinct
Black-headed Ibis, Threskiornis melanocephalus
Australian White Ibis, Threskiornis molucca
Straw-necked Ibis, Threskiornis spinicollis

Genus Pseudibis
Indian Black Ibis, Pseudibis papillosa
White-shouldered Ibis, Pseudibis davisoni

Genus Thaumatibis
Giant Ibis, Thaumatibis gigantea

Genus Geronticus
Northern Bald Ibis, Geronticus eremita
Southern Bald Ibis, Geronticus calvus

Genus Nipponia
Japanese Crested Ibis, Nipponia nippon

Genus Bostrychia
Olive Ibis, Bostrychia olivacea
Dwarf Olive Ibis, Bostrychia bocagei
Spot-breasted Ibis, Bostrychia rara
Hadada Ibis, Bostrychia hagedash
Wattled Ibis, Bostrychia carunculata

Genus Theristicus
Plumbeous Ibis, Theristicus caerulescens
Buff-necked Ibis, Theristicus caudatus
Andean Ibis, Theristicus branickii
Black-faced Ibis, Theristicus melanopis

Genus Cercibis
Sharp-tailed Ibis, Cercibis oxycerca

Genus Mesembrinibis
Green Ibis, Mesembrinibis cayennensis

Genus Phimosus
Whispering Ibis, Phimosus infuscatus

Genus Eudocimus
American White Ibis, Eudocimus albus
Scarlet Ibis, Eudocimus ruber

Genus Plegadis
Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
White-faced Ibis, Plegadis chihi
Puna Ibis, Plegadis ridgwayi

Genus Lophotibis
Madagascar Crested Ibis, Lophotibis cristata

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibis

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