Giant Ibis - Definition and Overview

The Giant Ibis (Thaumatibis gigantea) is a species of wading bird of the ibis family, Threskiornithidae. It is confined to northern Cambodia, with a few birds surviving in extreme southern Laos.

It occurs in marshes, pools, wide rivers and seasonal water-meadows in deciduous, lowland forest. It eats invertebrates, crustaceans, small amphibians and reptiles. Nothing is known of its breeding behaviour, but it probably nests in trees.

This is a huge ibis, with adults 102-106 cm long. The adults have dark plumage with naked, greyish head and upper neck.

This bird is considered to be critically endangered due to hunting, disturbance and lowland deforestation. The current population is estimated to be less than 50.