Ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersii)

About Ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersii)

• The ibisbill are elusive riverine birds in the Himalayan region.
• Scientific name: Their scientific name is Ibidorhyncha struthersii.
• Habitat: Their habitat are restricted to fast-flowing mountain rivers with gravel bars and often braided rivers.
  • Note: Future climate projections indicate an expansion in the ibisbill’s habitat range, particularly along mid-elevation river corridors.
• Distribution: They occurs across the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau. 
  • They are found in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and China.
    • In India, they have been reported from the states (and union territories) of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
• Features:
  • Appearance:
    • They are named after its long, red and down-curved bill, which resembles that of an ibis.
      • They uses its specialised bill to probe under stones and search for food along streams and ponds.
    • Their body is mainly grey in colour, with a distinctive black breast band and facial mask.
    • They are relatively heavy-bodied bird and are about 40 cm long.
    • They  have shorter legs compared to its close relatives, the avocets and stilts.
  • Diet: They mainly feed on aquatic insects, larvae and other invertebrates.
  • Nesting Habit: They nest directly on gravel bars, making them highly dependent on intact river habitats.
  • Migration: They breeds in the Himalayas at elevations of 3,000 metres or higher. During winter, they moves to the Himalayan foothills.
  • Behaviour: They are mostly solitary while foraging, monogamous (i.e. they mate for life) and territorial. 
• Threats:
  • Climate change
  • Anthropogenic activities
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: They are categorised as least Concern