Newsletter / Blog
2011-11-20 Aves Bird of the week - Hadeda Ibis - Bostrychia hagedash
The Hadeda Ibis - Bostrychia hagedash, is found in Sub-Saharan Africa.
It is found
throughout open grassland, savanna and wetlands as well as urban parks, school
fields, green corridors and large gardens.
Description
It is a large dark
brown Ibis with a white "moustache", glossy greenish purple wings, a
large black bill with a red stripe on the upper mandible, and grey/blackish
legs.
Call
It has a
distinctively loud and recognisable haa-haa-haa-de-dah call that is often heard
when the birds are flying or are startled, hence the name.
Food
It feeds mainly
on earthworms, using its long bill to probe soft soil. It also eats larger
insects, spiders, snails and small lizards.
Conservation status – Least Concern
Widespread and
common throughout its large range and is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species. |