Wild Bird Wednesday 716 - Ibisbill

The Ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersii) is a form of wader with a rather uncertain set of relationships to other wading birds.  It has a huge range, covering the high plateaux of central Asia and the Himalayas where it can be found on shingle riverbanks.  The Ibisbill breeds across southern Central Asia along these stony riverbeds typically between 1,700 and 4,400 m.  They are a rare breeding bird in India.

It is rare in India, and we were fortunate to get great views of a single bird.  As can be seen from the pictures (and this is noted in many field guides) that this bird is both striking and extremely well camouflaged.  It does not take much distance to be put between you and this bird before it simply blends into the rocky rivers on which it lives, and basically disappear from view.  I am even tempted to think that the dark chest band has evolved to mimic the dark shadows that form around the edges of the rocks in its habitat.

For all its rarity, this bird was feeding directly across the river from a group of women who were washing clothes.  It was only a far more intrusive group of bird watchers who seemed to elevate its stress levels a little (but not elevate them too much I hope)

The Ibisbill is about 38–41 cm long and is quite unmistakable given both its appearance and its choice of habitat. The adult is grey with a white belly, a crimson, long down-curved bill, a black face and a black breast band. The sexes are similar.

This species feeds on aquatic invertebrates and we watched it probing for food and turning over small rocks and pebbles.

In the way it behaved, it sort of looked like a wader trying to be a Dipper!  

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