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Ibis - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Ibis : (noun)
1: wading birds of warm regions having long slender down-curved
bills
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Ibis : \I"bis\, n. [L. ibis, Gr. ?; of Egyptian origin.]
(Zo["o]l.)
Any bird of the genus Ibis and several allied genera, of
the family Ibid[ae], inhabiting both the Old World and the
New. Numerous species are known. They are large, wading
birds, having a long, curved beak, and feed largely on
reptiles.
Note: The sacred ibis of the ancient Egyptians ({Ibis
[AE]thiopica) has the head and neck black, without
feathers. The plumage of the body and wings is white,
except the tertiaries, which are lengthened and form a
dark purple plume. In ancient times this bird was
extensively domesticated in Egypt, but it is now seldom
seen so far north. The glossy ibis ({Plegadis
autumnalis), which is widely distributed both in the
Old World and the New, has the head and neck feathered,
except between the eyes and bill; the scarlet ibis
({Guara rubra) and the white ibis ({G. alba}) inhabit
the West Indies and South America, and are rarely found
in the United States. The wood ibis ({Tantalus
loculator) of America belongs to the Stork family
({Ciconid[ae]). See Wood ibis.
Based on WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003)
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