Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae)

Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) - HBW 1, p. 493

French: Ibis à cou noir German: Australischer Ibis Spanish: Ibis Moluqueño
Other common names: Australian White/Black necked/Sacred Ibis

Taxonomy: Ibis molucca Cuvier, 1829, Moluccas.
Forms superspecies with T. aethiopicus and T. melanocephalus; sometimes considered race of T. aethiopicus. Population of Australia and S New Guinea has been separated in race strictipennis, but recent studies show it to be identical to birds from Moluccas, and indicate that the two should be synonymized. Validity of race pygmaeus questioned, but recent examination of specimens shows much smaller size than that to be expected from clinal variation. Two subspecies normally recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution: