Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis) [XC45706]
by Bernabe Lopez-Lanus from Hotel Kau Yatun, El Calafate, Santa Cruz, Argentina (call)
Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis) [XC546407]
by Nicol\u00e1s Cisterna from Reserva Natural Urbana Cotesma, San Mart\u00edn de Los Andes, Neuqu\u00e9n, Argentina (call)
Subspecies
Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis) and Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) have been lumped into Theristicus melanopis following SACC (2005).
Formerly considered subspecies of Buff-necked Ibis (Theristicus caudatus), with which forms superspecies. Subspecies branickii sometimes regarded as full species, on basis mainly of ecological differences.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
branickii (Gmelin, 1789) - Andes of Ecuador to northern Chile and northern Bolivia. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii).
melanopis (Gmelin, 1789) - Southern Chile and southern Argentina, migrating outside breeding season to northern Argentina; isolated population in coastal Peru.