Ibii or ibises?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (360316)
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.
8 people like this
6 responses
@FourWalls (77650)
• United States
3h
“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. 



@sallypup (65558)
• Centralia, Washington
5h
They're big and remind me of a heron. I like that, "bin chicken,"
