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Exceptional people in the glossy Ibises (4,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rare birds

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'the glossy ibises' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I don't see how one could define the other.

'exceptional people' is the wordplay.
'exceptional' becomes 'rare' (I've seen this in another clue).
'people' becomes 'birds' (bird is a kind of person).
'rare'+'birds'='RARE BIRDS'

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for rare birds that I've seen is " exceptional cases".)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times and the Irish Times (Crosaire).
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