Reddening in our Ibises - Part 3: What does a wild red ibis eat to be red?

Jun 21 2010

Reddening in some of our birds, it is currently a hotly debated topic with many aviculturists of ibises, flamingos, spoonbills and pelicans. On Ibisday 2007, we have already dealt with this topic extensively. We want to give you, on the basis of a number of articles, more information on this subject, in this way we give you the opportunity to become a critical judge on the usefulness of administering colours and the role they play.

This is the third part of this series of articles. These are the other parts:

We have tried to turn the scientific literature in a smoothly readable text. We think it is always nice when we get feedback on our articles, do not be afraid to state your experiences with us.

Part 3: What does a wild red ibis eat, among other things to be red?

Study Venezuela

  • stomach studied in 50 red ibis
  • difference between white and red ibis in food very small
  • eat mainly insects
  • also spiders, crabs, water hose and bivalves and fish
  • birds are beautiful stained

Study Suriname

  • food consists primarily of small crabs and crustaceans
  • in salt water feeding ibis itself more with fish
  • and the birds are beautiful stained

Brazilian study mangroves

  • 95% lobsters
  • the birds are beautiful stained

Study everglades

  • 90% crustaceans and fish
  • the birds are beautiful stained

Conclusion

Wild birds are not administered artificial products. They still have a beautiful red colour. In the four studies that have taken place in the wild, it appears that the birds perfect their colours from crustaceans, insects and fish.

Of course it is impossible for us to feed it every day. However, keep in mind that the daily feed what we provide to our many birds also contains carotenes: Maize, linseed, fish (flour), shrimp (flour), spirulinae, ...

Text: Ben Lamberigts
Header photo: Valerie

Sources

  • Couteel, P., Roodkleuring van ibissen: Ibisdag Antwerpen, 29-10-2007
  • Roodkleuring zalm, (Z.D)., [WWW], http://www.food-info.net/nl/qa/qafp13.htm, consulted [02/2008]
  • Threskior, Buvens, B., Lamberigts, B., Coorevits, K., Bauwens, K., (2007), Ibisvoeding, Project Dierengezondheid, Hogeschool Gent, Departement Biowetenschappen en Landschapsarchitectuur; België.