Ibises

[gstacks]

Here (near Denver, CO), White-faced Ibises are normal, but Glossy are rare.
Someone reported four Glossy Ibises this morning at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR. So I went there this afternoon and saw four Ibises.
But I'm not sure if they're White-faced or Glossy. Can you tell?

 

[Quiscalus quiscula]

Tough call from these pictures, but I don't see any reason to suspect that these are Glossy. White-faced Ibises for me.

[gstacks]

3 minutes ago, Quiscalus quiscula said:

Tough call from these pictures, but I don't see any reason to suspect that these are Glossy. White-faced Ibises for me.

That’s what I was thinking too. I looked hard for any signs of Glossy and didn’t see any. 

[Peromyscus]

The legs seem reddish, and in the top and bottom photos (as well as the second from the bottom) are birds that appear to have extensive white over the top of the bill. White-faced Ibises for me too.

Did the reporter of the Glossy Ibis say why he thought the birds were Glossy? There are no plumage notes in his eBird report, only "4 in a shallow pond with avocets".

[gstacks]

10 minutes ago, Peromyscus said:

There are no plumage notes in his eBird report, only "4 in a shallow pond with avocets".

Exactly! It wasn't a very convincing report, but it was enough to have me double check with you all in case I was missing something.

I think I'm finally a good enough birder to be suspicious of vague rare bird reports. But I'm still new enough that I need to double-check things. 🙂

Edited June 3 by gstacks

[IKLland]

That report is not to be trusted unless it’s from a trustworthy birder, but even then they would need details/photos for a rarity like that.