Glossy Ibis

The glossy ibis is a slender, dark wading bird with a long, curved bill. From a distance it appears entirely black, but up close and in good light its plumage reveals stunning bronze, green and violet iridescence — a true display of metallic colours. It probes mud and flooded meadows for worms, insects and small crustaceans. Long very rare in France, it has been expanding rapidly since the 2000s. In the Vendée marshes, it is seen more and more often in small groups, sometimes alongside spoonbills and egrets.