One of the most stunning wading bird is the world is the scarlet ibis, a South American bird of wetlands, shorelines and mud flats in South America’s estuaries, bays and rain forests.

It probes the shallow waters, mud and plants with its curved, slender bills eating crayfish, shrimp, insects, frogs, crabs, worms and small fish. The carotenoids in some of what it eats, especially shrimp and red mollusks give this ibis its brilliant red color.

Although some local populations have disappeared, this bird maintains a stable population and hopefully, enough wetlands and rainforests will be protected to support this beautiful bird.