Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Cambodia Giant Ibis

Giant ibis has recently been declared Cambodia's national bird, and conservation efforts are crucial to its protection.This is, by far, the largest of the world's ibises. Adults are reportedly 102–106 cm (40–42 in) long, with an upright standing height of up to 100 cm (39 in) and are estimated to weigh about 4.2 kg (9.3 lbs).Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 52.3–57 cm (20.6–22 in), the tail is 30 cm (12 in), the tarsus is 11 cm (4.3 in) and the culmen is 20.8–23.4 cm (8.2–9.2 in). The adults have overall dark grayish-brown plumage with a naked, greyish head and upper neck. There are dark bands across the back of the head and shoulder area and the pale silvery-grey wing tips also have black crossbars. The beak is yellowish-brown, the legs are orange, and the eyes are dark red. Juveniles have short black feathers on the back of the head down to the neck, shorter bills and brown eyes.
It has a loud, ringing call, frequently repeated around dawn or dusk, a-leurk a-leurk
 

Formerly the Giant Ibis was believed to breed in southeastern Thailand, central and northern Cambodia, southern Laos and southern Vietnam. It was still fairly common in the Mekong River delta until the 1920s but is now almost depleted, with a small remnant population breeding in Cambodia, southern Laos and possibly in Vietnam.


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