It is found in grassland and fields in western South America.

The head, neck and lower chest are buffish, the crown and nape are cinnamon, the upperparts and (often incomplete) chest-band are grey, the belly and flight feathers are black, and the wing-coverts are whitish (though not contrasting strongly with the grey upperparts).

The bill, throat-wattle and bare skin around the eyes are blackish and the legs are red.

The throat-wattle is smaller, the bill is shorter, the wing-coverts are greyer, the lower chest is paler and the cinnamon on the crown and nape is brighter and more extensive when compared to the black-faced ibis.

It is generally uncommon, and formerly also occurred in Lauca in far northern Chile.