Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Hadada Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash)
Hadada Ibis

Hadada Ibis

Bostrychia hagedash

The Hadada Ibis, Bostrychia hagedash, is a medium-sized bird native to the diverse landscapes of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is characterized by its stout legs and distinctive down-curved bill. The adult Hadada Ibis typically measures around 76 cm in length and weighs approximately 1.2 kg. Both sexes share similar plumage, which is primarily grey to partly brown, with a striking iridescent sheen of green or purple on the wing coverts.

Identification Tips

When observing the Hadada Ibis, look for the narrow white stripe across its cheeks, often referred to as the "moustache," though it does not extend to the mouth corners. During the breeding season, the bird sports a red culmen on the upper mandible's basal half and similarly colored upper toe surfaces. Its powerful and broad wings facilitate quick take-offs and agile flight through dense foliage.

Habitat

The Hadada Ibis thrives in a variety of habitats, including open grasslands, savannas, wetlands, and increasingly in urban environments such as parks, school fields, and residential gardens. It prefers areas with moist and soft soils, which are conducive to its foraging habits.

Distribution

This species is widespread across Sub-Saharan Africa, with its range extending from Sudan to South Africa. The Hadada Ibis has seen a notable range expansion in southern Africa, attributed to increased tree cover and irrigation in human-altered landscapes.

Behaviour

The Hadada Ibis is known for its social roosting behavior, often in groups atop trees. It is a diurnal bird, vocalizing loudly during morning and evening flights. Its diet consists of insects, millipedes, earthworms, and other small invertebrates, which it hunts using its long, scimitar-like bill to probe the soil. The Hadada Ibis is also appreciated in urban settings for its role in controlling pests on lawns and greens.

Song & Calls

The Hadada Ibis is renowned for its loud "haa-haa-haa-de-dah" call, which is particularly prominent during flight or when startled. This call has earned the species its onomatopoeic name. While roosting, a single loud "haaaa" can be heard, and a low growl, akin to a young puppy's, serves as a contact call when foraging.

Breeding

Monogamous by nature, Hadada Ibises maintain pair bonds year-round. Breeding is timed with the rainy season, with nests constructed as twig platforms in large trees. Both parents incubate the typical clutch of three to four eggs for about 26 days, and the fledglings leave the nest after approximately 33 days.

Similar Species

The Hadada Ibis can be distinguished from other ibis species by its unique vocalizations, the iridescent sheen on its wings, and the red coloration on its bill and toes during the breeding season.

Diet and Feeding

Hadada Ibises primarily feed on soil invertebrates, which they detect using sensory pits around their bill tips. They are also known to consume snails and small reptiles, providing a natural pest control service in both natural and urban settings.

Conservation Status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Hadada Ibis as Least Concern due to its extensive and common presence throughout its large range. The species has adapted well to human-modified environments, contributing to its stable population status.

Hadada Ibis Sounds


Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Hadada Ibis Fun Facts

Did you know?
Hadada Ibises are named after their loud "Haa-Daa-Daa" call.

Hadada Ibis on Birda

Sightings

More Ibises, Spoonbills

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Alice J
Awesome Birding Community
I absolutely love the community aspect of this app. The app is so user friendly and has fun interactive challenges to get you out birding. I’ve tried others but since I’ve started using Birda I’ve not gone back!
EandB17
Terrific App for Birders
Downloaded Birda around the time my interest in birding was sparked, and it has been a terrific app to help me (1) share my experience, (2) document my sightings, and (3) learn more about birds in general. That said, I also believe Birda is a fantastic app for birders of all experience levels. Great community!
Carrie
Makes you want to spot birds more
I think this app is fun. It makes you want to spot birds more so I guess in a way it encourages you to get out and about instead of sitting in front of the TV.
Amylia S
Best app for any birding person!
I love this app!! I am so addicted to it when I saw it had 3 star review I was so sad! The app is awesome!! The best app for any birding person! ❤️
Dunners12345
Great App
Great app to use for logging and communicating with others who are interested in birds
Safira V
Birding and wellbeing app
Birda is an excellent platform to share your love of Birding and is a great tool of encouragement for a Birding Beginner like me. Birda has a very kind and supportive community of Birding enthusiasts. For me BIRDA is not only a BIRDING but also a WELLBEING App.
Dan R
Great app for bird fanatics
Great app for bird fanatics - very user friendly and a perfect place to share sightings.
Stewart W
Fantastic to be involved
Fantastic to be involved, great for mental health and gets you responding with the Challenges that are to takd part in.
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
Anonymous
The best bird logging app
Birda is honestly the best bird logging app I have seen. I love all the features it has from being able to do a session and log all the birds you see in one sitting, to being able to connect with other birders from all over the globe!
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.