Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is in the Ibises and Spoonbills family (Threskiornithidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 12,194 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Glossy Ibis: observations by month (U.S.)
About Glossy Ibis
The glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a wading bird in the ibis family Threskiornithidae. The scientific name derives from Ancient Greek plegados and Latin, falcis, both meaning "sickle" and referring to the distinctive shape of the bill.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Glossy Ibis by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 7,138 | March | Nov–May |
| New Jersey | 812 | May | Apr–Aug |
| New York | 624 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 457 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Texas | 367 | April | Mar–May |
| Virginia | 342 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Delaware | 327 | August | Apr–Aug |
| Maryland | 319 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Maine | 315 | July | Apr–Aug |
| South Carolina | 268 | March | Jan–May |
| Connecticut | 206 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Ohio | 117 | May | May–May |
| Georgia | 111 | May | Mar–Jul |
| North Carolina | 96 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Louisiana | 93 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 84 | May | Apr–May |
| Rhode Island | 65 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Vermont | 50 | April | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 43 | April | Apr–May |
| New Hampshire | 38 | June | Apr–Aug |
| Alabama | 36 | April | Apr–Jun |
| California | 31 | May | May–Jun |
| Michigan | 23 | May | May–May |
| Mississippi | 22 | May | Apr–May |
| Kansas | 21 | April | Apr–May |
| Wisconsin | 17 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Illinois | 16 | May | Apr–May |
| Oklahoma | 16 | April | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 15 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Tennessee | 14 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arizona | 13 | May | May–May |
| Missouri | 13 | April | Apr–May |
| Nebraska | 11 | June | Apr–Jun |
| Utah | 11 | May | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 10 | May | May–Sep |
| Iowa | 8 | May | May–May |
| New Mexico | 8 | April | Apr–May |
| South Dakota | 8 | May | Apr–May |
| Arkansas | 7 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Indiana | 7 | May | Apr–May |
| District of Columbia | 5 | May | Apr–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Ibises and Spoonbills)
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Glossy Ibis?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from November to August.
Where is Glossy Ibis most often seen?
The most observations come from Florida, New Jersey, New York.