Hadada Ibis

Bostrychia hagedash

The Hadada Ibis is a large bird with a long, curved bill and beautiful greenish-black feathers. They are often seen in groups and love to make loud, honking calls that sound like 'ha-da-da'.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Hadada Ibis is a medium-large bird with dull grey-brown plumage, but its wings shimmer with iridescent green and purple. It has a distinctive long, downcurved black bill and a bare black face patch.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPelecaniformesFamilyThreskiornithidaeGenusBostrychia

Hadada Ibis

Interesting facts

Hadada Ibises often fly in V-formations, just like many geese!

Their loud, piercing call, 'haa-haa-dah', gives them their very own name!

These birds use their strong feet to stomp the ground, flushing out hidden bugs!

They sometimes build nests in surprisingly high places, even tall urban buildings!

Special abilities

Hadada Ibises can expertly probe soft ground because their long, curved bill helps them reach hidden insects and worms.

The Hadada Ibis has a famously loud 'haa-haa-dah' call that helps them communicate across distances and defend their territory.

Hadada Ibises can locate hidden prey in mud because their sensitive bill can detect subtle movements and scents underground.

The Hadada Ibis has excellent eyesight that helps them spot potential predators or good feeding grounds from a distance.

Measurements & details

Length: 65-76 cm
Wingspan: 90-100 cm
Weight: 0.9-1.3 kg
Lifespan: 10-20 years
Top Speed: 50 km/h
Clutch Size: 2-4
Incubation: 25-28 days

Diet & Feeding

These omnivores love to dig for insects, worms, and small creatures in soft ground.

Primary Foods

Earthworms
Grubs
Crickets
Snails
Beetles
Small lizards

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eats

Earthworm

Lumbricus terrestris

A favorite meal dug from the soil.

eaten by

African Fish Eagle

Haliaeetus vocifer

A natural predator of Hadada Ibises.

symbiotic with

Domestic Cattle

Bos taurus

Forages near grazing animals for insects.

Traits

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Piscivorous

Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.

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.