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Title: World's rarest bird Written by: duddy on Jul 5, 2016 (https://biology-forums.com/gallery/47/6_05_07_16_12_47_42.jpeg) (https://biology-forums.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=23653) The northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremita) was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in the Syrian desert near Palmyra in 2002. Habitat disturbance and hunting are the main drivers behind the bird's decline in its Middle Eastern habitat. This glossy black ibis ranges in size from 70 to 80 cm (28 to 31 inches) glossy black ibis, has an unfeathered red face and head, and a long, curved red bill. It breeds colonially on coastal or mountain cliff ledges, where it typically lays two to three eggs in a stick nest, and feeds on lizards, insects, and other small animals. According to a Turkish legend, the northern bald ibis was one of the first birds that Noah released from the ark, as a symbol of fertility. |