The food and feeding habits of the Straw-necked Ibis, Threskiornis spinicollis (Jameson), and the White Ibis, T. molucca (Cuvier) in Australia

Abstract

A survey of the feeding habits of the straw-necked ibis, Thresbiornis spinicollis (Jameson), and the white ibis, T . molucca (Cuvier), was made in eastern Australia during 1952-56. Analysis of the stomach contents of 162 straw-necked ibis and 202 white ibis reveals considerable overlap of food organisms, which are mainly aquatic and terrestrial. invertebrates. The white ibis fed largely on freshwater crayfish and other aquatic foods, and made limited use of drier habitats; the straw-necked ibis used a wider range of habitats and food organisms. Plague locusts of all stages and densities were eaten by ibises, but the overall effect on locust numbers is slight.