White Ibis – The White Ibis is one of the most common birds spotted at Disney World. They can be seen in just about any body of water at Disney World, and not just Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon but also in any of the many retaining ponds around the resort. They are also frequent visitors to all four theme parks and can even be seen in the animal enclosures and on the safari at Animal Kingdom.   

The White Ibis has a wingspan of around three feet and they are around two feet long. They are easily distinguished by their white plumage and long bills and in flight they can be identified by the black tips on their wings. The juvenile White Ibis is easily mistaken for a Limpkin and the way to tell the difference is the white spots on the Limpkin are much more pronounced.  

The White Ibis ranges from the southern United States, particularly in Florida throughout the Caribbean and along the coasts of nations in Central and South America bordering the Caribbean. According to native folklore, the White Ibis was the last bird to seek shelter during a hurricane and the first to emerge after a storm. This is why the University of Miami Hurricanes adopted the White Ibis as their mascot in 1926, giving him the name Sebastian in 1957. However, keep in mind at Disney World, Sebastian is a crab from the Little Mermaid and not a White Ibis.