<P> Mating pairs build nests in a simple style, typically "loose platforms of sticks" of a quality sometimes described as "artless". They roost in leaf canopies, mostly preferring the convenient shelter of young waterside mangrove trees . Scarlet ibises like wet, muddy areas such as swamps, but for safety they build their nests in trees well above the water . If they can, they nest on islands, where their eggs and chicks are less likely to be in danger from predators . </P> <P> To attract a female, the male will perform a variety of mating rituals such as "preening, shaking, bill popping, head rubbing, and high flights . As with most birds, mating does not involve any coupling or insertion: instead, a transfer of seminal fluids occurs during external contact between the cloacal openings . After a gestation period of five to six days, the female lays a clutch of three to five smooth, matte eggs which typically incubate for 19--23 days . After a successful courtship, pairs remain faithful and cohabitant, sharing parental responsibilities for the young . </P> <P> In southeastern Brazil, the ibises gather in colonies in mid-September and build nests at the beginning of November . Egg laying within the colony was synchronous, with female birds laying eggs in three waves in early November, late December and late January . </P> <P> Their distinctive long, thin bills are used to probe for food in soft mud or under plants . Popularly imagined to be eating only shrimp, a recent study in Llanos has found that much of their diet consists of insects, of which the majority were scarabs and ground beetles . One species in particular, a scarab beetle Dyscinetus dubius, formed a large part of the diet . In contrast, the diet of the co-occurring American white ibis there differed, the latter consuming more bugs, fish and crustaceans . </P>

Why does the scarlet ibis fade to pink in captivity