Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii

The Ibisbill is a wader named after its long, downcurved bill like an ibis, but unrelated to ibises. It is related to plovers and other waders but is the only bird in its genus and family.

The Ibisbill is native to shingle banks of rivers and lakes at high altitude in Central Asia and the Himalayas. Thanks to Alexandra Makhnina for these photos at Great Almaty Lake, Kazakhstan.

It's bizarre patterning, 8cm red bill, blue-grey plumage and even the purple legs give perfect camouflage in its stony habitat.

The leg colour is purple in the breeding adult but turns crimson like the bill on death. Non-breeding adults and chicks have olive-brown legs and juveniles, which lack black face and the breast bar, have sepia legs. They have three forward toes and no hind toe, like ratites. However they can and do fly, although some prefer to swim.