Does the deformation shown under the beak normal for this species? Maybe is just a flap of skin due to the head position, I research a several images in google but I was not able to find a similar picture.
Since the bird is in breading, Is this similar to the American white pelicans?
Thanks,
Raul
Last edited by Raul Quinones; 05-02-2009 at 08:56 PM.
Reason: Edit title
I've recently seen the same thing on other ibises.
About five minutes of searching and I came up with this: http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v09...0168-p0169.pdf
Wonderfully interesting that the female's gular pouch is the one that is inflated! A bit of avian role-reversal!! :)
Hope this helps!
And on a side note - I'm quite curious as to the rather strange angle of the leg. Was it broken?