CR

White-shouldered Ibis

Pseudibis davisoni

Declining

Overview

The white-shouldered ibis is a large species of bird in the family Threskiornithidae. It is native to small regions of Southeast Asia, and is considered to be one of the most threatened bird species on this part of the continent.

The White-shouldered Ibis faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive wetland habitat destruction across Southeast Asia, with drainage of marshes and floodplains for agricultural conversion being the most significant threat. Hunting pressure and human disturbance at remaining breeding sites have further reduced populations, while dam construction and water diversion projects have altered the hydrological cycles essential for their feeding ecology. The species' dependence on large, undisturbed wetland complexes makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation.

Threat summary

Habitat

White-shouldered Ibis inhabits large freshwater wetlands including marshes, swamps, flooded grasslands, and seasonal pools in lowland areas. The species requires extensive undisturbed wetland complexes with shallow water for foraging and adjacent grasslands or reed beds for nesting.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical dry· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical swamp· majorArtificial - Aquatic & marine· majorGrassland· majorWetlands (inland)· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryAwareness & communicationsCompliance and enforcementLinked enterprises & livelihood alternatives

Other threatened species in THRESKIORNITHIDAE

Giant IbisCR

Giant Ibis

Thaumatibis gigantea

Declining
EN

Malagasy Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis bernieri

Declining
Asian Crested IbisEN

Asian Crested Ibis

Nipponia nippon

Increasing
Black-faced SpoonbillVU

Black-faced Spoonbill

Platalea minor

Stable

Threatened in Cambodia

Bourret's Cat SnakeEN

Bourret's Cat Snake

Boiga bourreti

Unknown
VU

Synchronous Bent-wing Firefly

Pteroptyx malaccae

Declining
CR

Lithocarpus eriobotryifolius

Declining
VU

Schistura kontumensis

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is White-shouldered Ibis classified as Critically Endangered?
White-shouldered Ibis is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The White-shouldered Ibis faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive wetland habitat destruction across Southeast Asia, with drainage of marshes and floodplains for agricultural conversion being the most significant threat. Hunting pressure and human disturbance at remaining breeding sites have further reduced populations, while dam construction and water diversion projects have altered the hydrological cycles essential for their feeding ecology. The species' dependence on large, undisturbed wetland complexes makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation.
Where does White-shouldered Ibis live?
White-shouldered Ibis occurs in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, and Myanmar (Burma) (plus 2 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to White-shouldered Ibis?
The main threats to White-shouldered Ibis are 1.1, 11.4, 2.1, and 2.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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