Hadada Ibis
Bostrychia hagedash
Also known as: Hadada, Hadeda
Habitat
Ground
Diet
Invertebrate
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
1.2 kg
About This Species
A large, loud ibis common in gardens, parks, and open ground across sub-Saharan Africa, easily recognized by its harsh, far-carrying call, often given in flight at dawn or dusk. It probes lawns and soft soil with its long curved bill for earthworms and invertebrates, and has become strongly associated with suburban areas where irrigation keeps the ground soft. Seen and heard year-round, most active in the cooler hours of morning and evening.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- This species is highly habituated to people in many towns and will often continue feeding at close range, but it is still best to watch from a few metres rather than crowding a foraging bird.
- Wildlife protection laws vary by country across its African range, so avoid assuming a single set of rules applies everywhere, and never attempt to handle or corner one, since a startled bird can deliver a painful peck with its long bill.
- Leave nests in tall trees undisturbed, as repeated disturbance near a colony can cause birds to abandon a breeding attempt.
LCAvesPelecaniformesThreskiornithidae
Seasonal Activity
590,069 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Family
- Threskiornithidae
Traits
- Diet
- Invertebrate
- Foraging
- Ground
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 1.2 kg
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.