Hadada Ibis Identification Guide

Overview

The Hadada Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash) is a common, conspicuous ibis found across much of sub-Saharan Africa, equally at home in wild wetlands and suburban lawns and parks. It is named onomatopoeically for its unmistakable, far-carrying call.

Key Field Marks

• Size and shape: A large, heavy-bodied ibis about 65-76 cm (26-30 in) long with a long, downcurved bill, thick neck, and relatively short legs compared to many other ibises.
• Plumage: Overall dull gray-brown with a slightly darker, glossy greenish-purple iridescent patch on the wing coverts that flashes in good light; a thin whitish stripe runs across the cheek.
• Bill: Long, heavy, and downcurved, dark grayish with a contrasting reddish culmen (ridge) stripe near the base, visible at close range.
• Behavior: Forages by probing soil and lawns for invertebrates, often in small groups; frequently seen walking on open grass, golf courses, and gardens in urban and suburban settings across its range.

Separating It from Similar Species

• Glossy Ibis: Smaller, more slender, with much more extensive glossy purplish-green sheen over the whole body rather than a limited wing patch, and a thinner bill; ranges overlap only in parts of Africa.
• African Sacred Ibis: White-bodied with a bare black head and neck, entirely different in overall coloration and easily separated at a glance.
• Other Bostrychia ibises (e.g., Olive Ibis, Spot-breasted Ibis): More forest-dependent, generally darker and more secretive, and lack the Hadada's tolerance of open, human-modified habitats.

Habitat, Range, and Season

Widespread and resident across sub-Saharan Africa, from savanna and wetland edges to farmland, parks, and suburban gardens, having expanded considerably into urban areas in recent decades, especially in southern and eastern Africa. Non-migratory; present year-round wherever found, with local movements tied to rainfall and food availability.

Voice

Extremely vocal, giving a loud, raucous, cackling "ha-ha-ha-de-dah" call, especially in flight at dawn and dusk — one of the most recognizable and frequently heard bird sounds across much of Africa, often used as the species' primary identification clue even before it is seen.