Another wonderful encounter at the Laguna Nimez Reserva Municipal in El Calafate, Argentina, was with this Black-faced Ibis who landed, perched and strutted on the tin roof of birding observation shelter. I don’t think I could have ordered better later afternoon color.

Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis) is found almost exclusively in the southern reaches of South America – in the southern and central parts of Argentina and Chile mostly– where it thrives in wetter grasslands and fields. It’s also been found in some areas of coastal Peru. It’s loud, like a boisterous trumpeteer.

A few more images below from a batch I recently found, shot in late February 2013 near Villa Cerro Castillo, in Chile’s Aysén Region. The first gives you an idea of some the sensational expanses that can be found in that part of Patagonia.

Black-faced Ibis in brief (with assist from WordPress AI but double-checked by me):

• Size: Approximately 65–75 cm (25.5–29.5 in) in length; wingspan about 120–130 cm (47–51 in).
• Diet: Primarily feeds on invertebrates, small fish, and plant matter.
• Habitat: Prefers wetter grasslands, fields, and wetlands; commonly found in southern and central Argentina, Chile, and coastal Peru.
• Physical Description: Notable for its black face and neck, white body with dark wings, and long, curved bill.
• Breeding: Nests in colonies, often on the ground or in low shrubs; typically lays 2-5 eggs.
• Conservation Status: Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List (2016).
• Unique Behaviors: Known for its loud, trumpeting calls; exhibits social feeding behavior in groups.
• Range and Migration: Resident throughout its range, with some seasonal movement in response to food availability and wetland conditions.

Some related links for future reference or further exploration:

• Black-Faced Ibis profile at Cornell Lab of Ornithology Birds of the World platform
• Black-faced Ibis status update from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species (least concern 2016)
• Black-faced Ibis at Avibase
• Black-faced Ibis on Wikipedia
• Black-faced Ibis from BirdLife DataZone
• Black-faced Ibis from Oiseaux.net
• A selection of Black-faced Ibis videos, call and song recordings from eBird.

Photos taken on 9 February, 2013 and on 22 February, 2013; latest post update on 6 July 2025.