Ibis word meaning and definition

[noun] wading birds of warm regions having long slender down-curved bills

\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}.

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