Medium-sized wader that resembles an all-dark curlew. Has a heavier down-curved gray bill, long legs and long neck. Breeding adults look black from a distance but are mostly bright glossy chestnut-maroon overall when seen at close range. Back and wings are glossy dark green and highly iridescent. Facial skin is pinkish red; white feathering creates an obvious border above and below the facial skin and connects behind the eye. After mid-winter of their hatch-year, this species has red eyes and reddish facial skin, though the white border is lacking in younger birds and duller basic-plumaged adults. Red-brown legs with contrasting paler pinkish red "knees." Basic-plumaged adults are less glossy above, more sooty brown below, and show fine white streaking on the head and neck. Bill is entirely grayish in all but juvenile birds. Juvenile: similar to adult, but less glossy, drabber overall. Variable white splotches on chin, throat and fore-neck. Patchy gray and black bill. Compare to Glossy Ibis, which tends to appear darker overall and has a browner bill. Glossy Ibis shows much thinner pale blue-gray lines (not extending behind eye) above and below the dark blue-gray facial skin. In alternate plumage, leg color can be used to separate White-faced and Glossy Ibis.

Length: 58 (cm) Wingspan: 91 (cm)

Voice:

Various groaning noises or nasal grunts.

Habitat:

Most shallow, well-vegetated wetlands, including saltwater wetlands and flooded fields. May be found on small mudflats. Nests and roosts in trees and shrubs.

Behavior:

Forages by probing. Forms large, gregarious foraging flocks.

Feeding:

Diet consists of insects, slugs, snails, spiders, crustaceans and leeches.