wood ibis

noun

1. any of several storks of the subfamily Mycteriinae, especially Mycteria americana, of the warm parts of America, and Ibis ibis, of Africa, having chiefly white plumage and a featherless head and resembling the true ibises in having curved bills: M. Americana is endangered.

wood ibis

noun

1. any of several storks having a downward-curved bill, esp Mycteria americana of America and Ibis ibis of Africa

Word History and Origins

Origin of wood ibis¹

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85

Example Sentences

Among the trees the wood-ibis stole; without on the placid glass of the stream the eared grebe floated.

From Project Gutenberg