# African Sacred Ibis (*Threskiornis aethiopicus*) The African Sacred Ibis is a beautiful bird with long legs and a curved beak. It often walks near water, searching for food like fish and insects. These birds are known for their striking black and white feathers. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Black-headed Ibis, Sacred Ibis ![African Sacred Ibis](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Threskiornis_aethiopicus_-Mida_Creek_mud_flats%252C_Kenya-8.jpg&width=800) Photo: Steve Garvie from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Threskiornis_aethiopicus_-Mida_Creek_mud_flats%252C_Kenya-8.jpg) ## Appearance The African Sacred Ibis has a striking pure white body with distinct black flight feathers on its wings. Its head and neck are bare and black, topped with a long, downward-curving black bill, making it easily recognizable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Pelecaniformes - **Family:** Threskiornithidae - **Genus:** Threskiornis ## Interesting facts - African Sacred Ibises can swallow surprisingly large meals, including frogs and small snakes! - Ancient Egyptians believed these birds were sacred, even mummifying them with pharaohs! - Its scientific name, 'Threskiornis aethiopicus', means 'sacred bird of Ethiopia'! - Sometimes they follow tractors to feast on worms and bugs churned up by the farming equipment! ## Special abilities - **Mud Magnet:** African Sacred Ibis can probe deep into soft mud with its long, curved bill to find hidden insects and small creatures. - **Colony Commander:** African Sacred Ibises nest and roost in large groups, which helps them protect their young and find food efficiently. - **City Slicker:** This adaptable ibis can thrive in many environments, from wild wetlands to busy urban parks, finding food wherever it goes. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 65-75 cm - **Wingspan:** 112-124 cm - **Weight:** 1.3-1.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 21-29 days ## Diet & Feeding These omnivores enjoy a varied menu of insects, small animals, and sometimes even human food scraps! - **Primary Foods:** insects, crustaceans, fish, frogs, carrion, eggs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Migratory Locust](https://www.snappit.app/explore/migratory-locust) (*Locusta migratoria*) — Helps control insect populations, especially locusts. - **Eats:** Common African Toad (*Amietophrynus regularis*) — Preys on amphibians found in its wetland habitats. - **Eaten by:** African Fish Eagle (*Haliaeetus vocifer*) — A large raptor that sometimes preys on ibis adults or chicks. - **Symbiotic with:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — Forages near cattle, eating insects disturbed by their grazing. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and do not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify African Sacred Ibis? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is African Sacred Ibis? 65-75 cm ### What is African Sacred Ibis's wingspan? 112-124 cm ### How much does African Sacred Ibis weigh? 1.3-1.5 kg ### How long does African Sacred Ibis live? 15-20 years ### How fast can African Sacred Ibis move? 40 km/h ### What does African Sacred Ibis eat? These omnivores enjoy a varied menu of insects, small animals, and sometimes even human food scraps! ### Where is African Sacred Ibis usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Tier- und Freizeitpark Thüle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tier-und-freizeitpark-thule) — Niedersachsen, DE · Zoo ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [African Sacred Ibis: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/african-sacred-ibis)