Habitat

During the breeding season, it inhabits the upland puna and paramo in the Andes, usually between 3,700–4,500 m (26 Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, D. F. Lane, J. P. O’Neill, and T. A. Parker (2007). Birds of Peru. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close , 27 West, B. (2014). New observations of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii, Threskiornithidae): Distribution, movements, and behavior near Volcan Antisana. Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 2019. Close , 28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ). The paramo habitat in Ecuador where Andean Ibis has been studied ranges between 4,000–4,300 m and is described as flat plain or gently sloping. Paramo in Ecuador is vegetated with tussock grasses, usually with a maximum height of 30 cm (occasionally up to 60 cm), or with cushions plants in wetter areas (27 West, B. (2014). New observations of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii, Threskiornithidae): Distribution, movements, and behavior near Volcan Antisana. Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 2019. Close ). The most common tussock grass species in these habitats include Calamagrostis intermedia and Stipa [Jarava] ichu, while dominate cushion plant species include Plantago rigida, Azorella sp., Disterigma sp., and Distichia muscoides; in areas with heavy grazing pressure from livestock, shorter grasses are more common, including Festuca sp., Agrostis sp., and Paspalum sp. (27 West, B. (2014). New observations of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii, Threskiornithidae): Distribution, movements, and behavior near Volcan Antisana. Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 2019. Close , 28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ). In addition to the grasses and cushion plants, other common herbaceous plant species that characterize this habitat include Wernia [Rockhausenia] nubigena, Hypochaeris sp., Lachemilla sp., Geranium sp., and Gentiana sedifolia (27 West, B. (2014). New observations of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii, Threskiornithidae): Distribution, movements, and behavior near Volcan Antisana. Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 2019. Close ). Some woody vegetation (usually under 2 m in height) also grows at some lower elevation paramo sites, including Chuquiraga jussieui, Gynoxys cuicochensis, Diplostephium ericoides, and Valeriana microphylla (27 West, B. (2014). New observations of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii, Threskiornithidae): Distribution, movements, and behavior near Volcan Antisana. Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 2019. Close ). These habitats have a mean temperature of 6–10ºC, with up to 3,000 mm of rainfall per year (27 West, B. (2014). New observations of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii, Threskiornithidae): Distribution, movements, and behavior near Volcan Antisana. Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 2019. Close ). All documented nests have been found on cliff faces (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ; Allasi Condo, eBird; Saire and Conori, eBird; see Nest Site).

Little known, but uses lowland valleys in the Atacama Desert in Peru and Chile, possibly during a migration (24 Goodall, J. D., A. W. Johnson, and R. A. Phillipi (1951). Las Aves de Chile: su Conocimiento y sus Costumbres. Platt Establecimientos Gráficos, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Close ). However, it seems the colonization of these areas is recent, and potentially is related with the suitability of the agricultural habitats for this species, instead of the original shrublands. More information is needed.