Hadeda Ibis

Afrikaans name: Hadeda

Photo © Steven Herbert

Bostrychia hagedash

The word Hadeda is sometimes spelt Hadada. The name Hadeda is derived from their raucous call.

The distinctive features of this bird is its long bill and loud call. They are common in gardens in some areas and are very vocal even calling at night when they are disturbed.

The Hadeda Ibis feeds off insects, worms, millipedes, small reptiles and other small creatures. It is often seen patrolling lawns and then digging with its long bill when it senses something is there. When digging they find their prey by touch rather than sight.

Hadedas are about 75 cm in length. They are greyish in colour with a metallic purple sheen in the right light. Their bills are black with a red strip along the top.

The Hadeda Ibis nests in trees. They do not form colonies like other ibises. The Hadeda is found in a variety of habitats including gardens, parks, forest, savanna, woodland and grassland.

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References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 45

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1959 - Page: 165

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 165

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 59

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 28

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Year Published: 1992 - Page: 8

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Year Published: - Page: 32

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 28

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 10

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Year Published: 2005 - Page: 11

Everyone's Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 115

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 38

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Year Published: 2004 - Page: 178

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Year Published: 2017 - Page: 52

Geoff Lockwood's Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Year Published: - Page: 157

Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 62

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 84

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 2000 - Page: 84

Newman's Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 26

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Year Published: 1949 - Page: 31

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 52

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1981 - Page: 56

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 74

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 75

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 70

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 58

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 20

Wading Birds of the World - Revised edition - Author: Eric and Richard Soothill - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 104

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 40

List of South African Birds