Madagascar Crested Ibis vs Black-headed Ibis

Lophotibis cristata compared with Threskiornis melanocephalus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Madagascar Crested Ibis Black-headed Ibis
Scientific Name Lophotibis cristata Threskiornis melanocephalus
Order Pelecaniformes Pelecaniformes
Family Threskiornithidae Threskiornithidae
Conservation Status Vulnerable Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 63.8 cm (25.1 in) 70.0 cm (27.6 in)
Weight 583.0 g (20.56 oz) 1303.0 g (45.96 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 3 2-4
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Madagascar Crested Ibis only

Black-headed Ibis only

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Conservation Status

Vulnerable

Madagascar Crested Ibis

Least Concern

Black-headed Ibis

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About These Birds

Madagascar Crested Ibis

The Madagascar Crested Ibis (Lophotibis cristata) is the sole member of its genus and one of the most distinctive members of the family Threskiornithidae, endemic to the island of Madagascar. It is a medium to large ibis measuring 50 cm in length, notable for a long, shaggy white crest that erupts from the nape and cascades down the back of the neck, contrasting sharply with the rufous-brown body plumage. The wings are white, creating a striking pattern in flight, while …

Black-headed Ibis

65–76 cm. White with bare black head; black wingtips and neck feathers. Resident across South and Southeast Asia in wetlands, rice paddies, and grasslands. Near Threatened; declining due to habitat loss and hunting. Feeds by probing in shallow water for fish and invertebrates; colonial nester.

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