Thoth, an ancient Egyptian god who represented the Moon, wisdom, hieroglyphics, knowledge, writing and art, often took the form of an ibis or a man with the head of an ibis. Last October through January 19 of this year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art featured Thoth and other Egyptian deities in Divine Egypt, an exhibition with almost 250 works of art and objects. The exhibition, for me, showed how much the ancient Egyptians revered animals and how little the ibis has changed over the more than 2,000 years since this bird was worshipped.
Statue of an ibis and devotee on a base inscribed for Padihorsiese, 664-525 BCE
Hieroglyphic inlay depicting Thoth as an ibis with a Maat feather, 360–343 BCE
In 2024 and 2025, I had the opportunity to photograph glossy ibises at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and white ibises on Staten Island. There are 27 extant species of ibises, but most of the ibises we see in the New York City area are glossy ibises and occasional visits from white-faced and white ibises. When I visited the end of Delwit Avenue on Staten Island on August 1, 2025, I was able to see both young white ibises and glossy ibises side by side, and to see how the profiles of these birds so resemble the profiles of the birds depicted in the Met’s displays.
Glossy ibises and young white ibises, Delwit Avenue, Staten Island, August 1, 2025
Young white ibises, Delwit Avenue, Staten Island, August 1, 2025
Glossy ibis, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, August 31, 2025
Visits to the Bronx Zoo allowed me to see some ibises that do not visit our area in the wild. These are beautiful birds that show us how their profiles so resemble those on the ancient artifacts. The black-faced ibis (Theristicus melanopis) and the scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) are South American birds, with the scarlet ibis found in the Caribbean as well.
Black-faced ibis, Bronx Zoo, December 22, 2025
Cornice block with relief showing the king’s purification, 41-68 CE
Scarlet ibis, Bronx Zoo, December 22, 2025
Arm panel from a ceremonial chair showing Thoth standing by Thutmose IV, ca. 1400-1390 BCE
I have put together a video, Ibises, Descendants of Thoth, featuring glossy and white ibises seen in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in 2024 and 2025 and the immature white ibises seen on Staten Island in 2025. You can also see the scarlet and black-faced ibises in the Bronx Zoo. The music is by Bach.
This gallery has photos from 2024 and 2025 of ibises seen at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, on Staten island and at the Bronx Zoo. I am extremely captivated by these beautiful birds.
The Divine Egypt exhibition had some remarkable items. Especially interesting were some other animals revered by the ancient Egyptians. I include a sample here and encourage you to check out more on the Met’s Web site. For me, the falcon was an inspiration, as were the cats and hippos.
Lintel depicting Horus offering an ankh sign to the Horus name of King Amenemhat I, ca. 1981-1952 BCE
Inlay of the Horus falcon on the hieroglyph for “gold,” 360-343 BCE
Statue of Horus as a falcon protecting King Nectanebo II, 360-343 BCE
Relief plaque with vulture and cobra on baskets, 400-30 BCE
Relief of the Goddess Maat, with a curled ostrich feather worn on her head, ca. 1294-1279 BCE
Statuette intended to hold a mummified cat, 332-30 BCE
Canopic chest of Khonsu, ca. 1279-1213 BCE
Falcon box with wrapped contents, 600-30 BCE