Species profile
About this species
The Scarlet Ibis is a striking wading bird found across tropical South America & the Caribbean, most notably in Trinidad & Tobago, where it is a national bird. Its vivid scarlet plumage is derived from carotenoid pigments in its crustacean-rich diet, making it one of the most brilliantly coloured birds in the world. It typically nests in large colonies in coastal mangroves & feeds in shallow mudflats, lagoons & estuaries.
Coastal mangrove swamps, mudflats, shallow lagoons, estuaries & tropical wetlands across northern South America & Caribbean islands, particularly Trinidad.
Where to photograph
Where our trips feature this species
You can photograph Scarlet Ibis with us in Trinidad & Tobago.
These departures are part of our South America programme.
In the field, David Miles helps guests make the most of these encounters.
Field notes
Photography notes
The late dry season into early wet season (April to June) is ideal, coinciding with our Tropical Birds Of Trinidad trip in April 2028. Late afternoon - roughly one to two hours before sunset - is the prime time of day, as birds gather & fly in large flocks to their mangrove roosts in warm, directional light.
Visit the Caroni Swamp in Trinidad during our April 2028 trip to capture the iconic late afternoon roost flight, when thousands of birds return to the mangroves in golden light. Use a telephoto lens of at least 400mm to isolate individual birds against the green mangrove canopy, & expose carefully to retain detail in the brilliant red plumage without blowing out highlights. Shooting from a low boat position helps achieve eye-level compositions & reduces background clutter.
Available holidays
Trips featuring Scarlet Ibis
The holidays below are pulled from the same species relationship, so the guide stays tied to live departures rather than becoming a static article.