White Ibis Eudocimus albus
As common as they are in coastal wetlands of the southern parts of the country, I get excited every time I see one of these birds. The genus name Eudocimus, from Ancient Greek, hints at the esteem these birds enjoyed in early civilizations: meanings include “honored,” “glorious,” and “beautiful.” Recent years have seen a slow but steady expansion of range northward: they are now regular in Delaware, for instance, and increasingly recorded in New Jersey and beyond.