Red-naped Ibis

A medium-sized ibis with a dark body, often showing a bluish-green sheen. The crown and nape are covered in bright red warts. A white patch is usually visible near the shoulder of the wing. The bill is long and downcurved. This species can be confused with the similar-looking Glossy Ibis, but Glossy Ibis is smaller and lacks the red warts and white shoulder patch. In flight, the legs of Red-naped Ibis don’t extend beyond the tail, unlike in Glossy Ibis. Unlike most other ibis, Red-naped favors drier habitats, such as rye fields. It is usually found singly or in loose groups.

In Sri Lanka, the Red-naped Ibis is typically found in wetland areas like marshes, lakes, riverbeds, and irrigated farmlands, often near villages and towns, but its distribution is considered limited and not widespread throughout the island due to the lack of suitable habitat in forested or arid regions;.

In Sri Lanka, the Red-naped Ibis primarily feeds on a diet of insects, frogs, small vertebrates, carrion, and occasionally grains, foraging mainly in dry open land and stubbly fields; they are known to also scavenge at garbage dumps and may even prey on small birds like Rock Pigeons near urban areas, making them essentially omnivorous.