Hadada Ibis - BirdForum Opus

Bostrychia hagedash

Photo by Steve G
Photo taken: The Gambia

Identification

76 cm long, dark brown ibis with a white "moustache", glossy greenish purple wings, large black bill with a red stripe on upper mandible, and blackish legs.

Distribution

Africa

Taxonomy

There are three subspecies.¹

• B. h. brevirostris
  • Senegal to Kenya south to the Zambezi Valley
• B. h. nilotica
  • Sudan and Ethiopia to northeastern Zaire, Uganda, and northwestern Tanzania
• B. h. hagedash
  • Africa south of the Zambezi Valley

Habitat

Waters close to open forest or woodland.

Behaviour

Diet includes earthworms, using its long scimitar-like bill to probe soft soil. It also eats larger insects, spiders and small lizards.

It has a distinctively loud and recognisable 'haa-haa-haa-de-dah call.

References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.

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