straw-necked ibis

‘Farmers in Australia are very pleased with these birds. This is because straw-necked ibises eat grasshoppers and other insects’

Discover in real life
Straw-necked ibisThreskiornis spinicollis

  • Habitat

    Australia and Papua New Guinea

  • Food

    insects

  • Lifetime

    15 years

  • Weight

    1.5 kilos

  • Number of eggs

    2 to 5 eggs

  • Breeding time

    25 days

  • IUCN Status

    safe

  • EEP?

    no

A fitting name

The name ‘straw-necked ibis’ suits the bird well. But that only applies for part of the year. During the breeding season, the straw-necked ibis grows long, yellow feathers on its neck. These feathers resemble straw. After the breeding season, the straw-necked ibis moults and its neck returns to being completely black and white.

Theme area: Details Matter

You’ll encounter the straw-necked ibis in the ‘Details Matter’ theme area. Here, you’ll learn how striking patterns and clever adaptations, or an animal’s appearance, can be used to hide or, conversely, to deter predators.

Discover theme area

Explore the other animals in the theme area an eye for detail