The Hadada or Hadeda Ibis, Bostrychia hagedash is a large, up to 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.

The Hadada Ibis is found throughout open grasslands, savanna and rainforests of Sudan, Ethiopia, Senegal, Uganda, Tanzania, Gabon, Zaire, Cameroon, Gambia, Kenya, Somalia and South Africa, and also in urban parks and large gardens. It feeds mainly on earthworms, using its long scimitar-like bill to probe soft soil. It also eats larger insects, such as the Parktown Prawn, as well as spiders and small lizards. These birds also favour snails and will feed in garden beds around residential homes.

It has a distinctively loud and recognisable haa-haa-haa-de-dah call that is often heard when the birds are flying or when startled, hence the name.

Widespread and common throughout its large range, the Hadada Ibis is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Gallery

References

• Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

External links

• BirdLife Species Factsheet
• IUCN Red List