Ibii or ibises?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382104)
Rockingham, Australia
August 9, 2025 6:13pm CST
A rather unusual competition is being held by ABC Science, ABC standing for Australian Broadcasting Corporation. They’ve released a list of Australia’s ten most underrated animals and are asking the community to vote on their favourites.
While the Australian white ibis (Threskiornis Molucca) doesn’t make the cut, there was an interesting article on it. It’s known as the ‘bin chicken’ here as it has adapted to living among humans, often frequenting rubbish tips and landfill and scavenging for food. They have a bald head and apparently a distinctive aroma although I’ve never been close enough to smell one.
The ibis is either loved or hated here. Since hundreds of the birds in south-east Queensland have been tagged with a numbered label, people have taken to recognising a particular bird as frequenting an area.
Our friend would always call more than one ibis 'ibii' which I thought was cute. The photo shows ibii/ibises in our paddock in Donnybrook but they aren't the white variety.
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13 responses


@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
10 Aug
I think it is a plural like fish and deer, the same whether singular or plural. So a flock of Ibis are ibis. Fun to think of them as bin chickens.
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@snowy22315 (208952)
• United States
10 Aug
Speaking of birds I forgot to bring Nico the big bird feather I found down at the lake. Darn it.
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@RasmaSandra (98033)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Aug
I love the look of ibises. Such interesting birds.
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@RasmaSandra (98033)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 Aug
@JudyEv I do believe they know how to live with those beaks, A long time ago when my late husband went to Sydney he sat in a park watching pigeons and ibis who lived in a tree there, When an ibis came up to him and pecked at his shoe to make him aware it wanted food,
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@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Aug
@RasmaSandra The Highland cows with their very long horns also are aware of how far their horns spread.
That's funny that the ibis pecked at his shoe.
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@FourWalls (86713)
• United States
10 Aug
“Distinctive aroma”…as in, like that of a skunk?
Most times someone saying an animal has an “aroma” is not a compliment.
We have species of them in America. And I like “Ibii” instead of “ibises,” too. 
Most times someone saying an animal has an “aroma” is not a compliment.
We have species of them in America. And I like “Ibii” instead of “ibises,” too. 
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@LindaOHio (222417)
• United States
10 Aug
I believe the bald head is because they eat carrion. Is that right?
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@Dreamerby (10111)
• Calcutta, India
10 Aug
So what's the correct version ibii or ibises?
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