Glossy Ibis x White-faced Ibis

Glossy Ibis x White-faced Ibis hybrid, Beebe Draw, western Weld County (Colorado, USA), early June 2011 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1409)

Here is Steve's commentary on this bird:

"The thin lines bordering the facial skin would initially suggest Glossy Ibis.  However, the eye has definite red in it (not as bright as surrounding White-faced Ibis) and the lines are tinged pink, not sky-blue, as would be normal for Glossy Ibis.  Finally, the white passes behind the eye (mostly a White-faced Ibis feature), but more importantly, there is actual white feathering passing over the base of the culmen - not as thick a line as normal for a White-faced, but a mark that should be totally lacking in a Glossy."

Glossy Ibis x White-faced Ibis hybrid (same bird as in photo ID 1409 above), Beebe Draw, western Weld County (Colorado, USA), early June 2011 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1410-1411)

The next bird is more like Glossy Ibis than the one above, taken at the same place the following month.  Steve writes:

"There is some red in eye, which Glossy shouldn't show (and this red was evident in the field).  Also, there is a dab of pinkish feathering behind the eye, suggestive of White-faced Ibis, and quite atypical for Glossy.  Finally, there is pale pinkish feathering passing over base of culmen, a White-faced Ibis mark rather than that of Glossy.  Overall, however, the dark facial skin and bill, the lines at the edges of facial skin, etc. causes this bird to look far more like a Glossy than a White-faced Ibis."

Glossy Ibis x White-faced Ibis hybrid, Beebe Draw, western Weld County (Colorado, USA), late May 2011 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1407-1408)

For the next bird Steve writes:

"If this bird was a pure Glossy Ibis, the bluish/whitish border to the lower edge of the facial skin should be far better defined.  The line on the upper edge is even more problematic for a Glossy Ibis.  White-faced Ibis may have a pale stripe here, one that is typically tinged (faintly) pinkish, with ill-defined borders (with a more "blobbed" middle) when compared with a typical Glossy.  Thus this border seems to show distinct White-faced Ibis influence.  The facial skin color and vague pattern, as well as the dark irides, are rather typical for Glossy Ibis."

Glossy Ibis x White-faced Ibis hybrid, Beebe Draw, western Weld County (Colorado, USA), 29th April 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1288-1290)

The next bird seems to be an adult but not in breeding plumage which, Steve points out, makes it harder.  He points to the black legs and line on the facial skin being rather Glossy like but the colour and shape of the line suggesting White-faced Ibis heritage.

Glossy Ibis x White-faced Ibis hybrid, Costilla County (Colorado, USA), August 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1646)

The first of two hybrids seen on one day showed purple facial skin with some pinkish hues and a bit of pink around the rear of the eye.

Glossy Ibis x White-faced Ibis hybrid, Beebe Draw, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 11th May 2015 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 2240-2241)

Steve says the second bird, "had a bit of dull white feathering around face as well as a hint of grayish lines bordering facial skin and thus characters of both parents".

Glossy Ibis x White-faced Ibis hybrid, Beebe Draw, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 11th May 2015 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 2242-2243)

It's worth clicking on these photos to bring up a larger version and see the detail of the face.

Glossy Ibis x White-faced Ibis hybrid, Union Reservoir, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 24th April 2010 - copyright Christian Nunes

(photo IDs: 2347-2348)

Steve tells us that a flock of 40 Plegadis Ibises contained one good Glossy Ibis and this hybrid showing some pink in the borders to the facial skin and some red in the eye.

Glossy Ibis x White-faced Ibis hybrid, Beebe Draw, western Weld County (Colorado, USA), 22nd April 2017 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 3204)

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi