Red-naped Ibis

Scientific Name: Pseudibis papillosa

Category: bird

Red-naped Ibis

Brief Description

A dark-plumaged ibis with a distinctive bright red patch on the back of its head and a decurved black bill, often found foraging in damp agricultural fields and wetlands.

Characteristics

Medium-large bird with mostly dark brown to blackish plumage, glossy blue-black sheen on the wings, a prominent bright red fleshy patch on the hindcrown, and bare black skin on the head and neck. It possesses a long, decurved black bill and dull reddish legs.

Habitat

Wetlands, marshes, flooded paddy fields, dry agricultural lands, and open scrub country near water bodies.

When to Find It

Resident throughout the year in Maharashtra, often more visible during the post-monsoon and winter months as water levels recede in wetlands around Powai.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Ecological Role

Acts as an important predator of insects, larvae, small amphibians, and reptiles in agricultural and wetland ecosystems, helping to regulate pest populations.

Easily Confused With

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) which is smaller, lacks the red neck patch, and has a more metallic bronze-green sheen; Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) which has a white body and a black head and neck.

Observation Tips

Look along the edges of Powai Lake, Vihar Lake, or nearby marshy agricultural fields early in the morning. Use binoculars or a telephoto lens to avoid disturbing them while they forage on the ground.

Interesting Facts

Unlike many other ibises that feed exclusively in shallow water, the Red-naped Ibis frequently feeds in dry agricultural fields far from standing water. They are usually seen in pairs or small family groups.