 The American white ibis is found in a variety of habitats , although shallow coastal marshes , wetlands and mangrove swamps are preferred . It is also commonly found in muddy pools , on mudflats and even wet lawns . Populations that are away from the coast and shoreline , particularly in southern Florida , often reside in other forms of wetlands such as marshes , ponds and flooded fields . In summer , these move to more coastal and estuarine habitats as inland waterways become flooded with summer rains and the ibis find the water levels too deep to forage effectively . 
