Sacred Ibis

Afrikaans name: Skoorsteenveër

Photo © Steven Herbert

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Many of us are familiar with the Hadeda Ibis. The Sacred Ibis is just as common but it is found around bodies of water instead of our gardens. It is definitely not as rowdy as the Hadeda.

The Sacred Ibis gets its name from Egypt where, some thousands of years ago, it was revered by the ancient Egyptians. Many of them were mummified and included in tombs.

Although the Sacred Ibis favours wetland habitats it can often be seen at rubbish dumps.

It feeds on a wide variety of prey including insects, fish, reptiles and small mammals and birds.

The Sacred Ibis nests in colonies in trees along with other species such as herons and pelicans.

Male and female have the same colouration.

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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: 44

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

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: 7

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Year Published: - Page: 30

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 26

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: 10

Everyone's Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 45

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

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

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Year Published: 1990 - Page: 28

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Year Published: 1949 - Page: 29

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 50

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1981 - Page: 54

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 71

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 72

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: 142

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Year Published: 1979 - Page: 6

Wading Birds of the World - Revised edition - Author: Eric and Richard Soothill - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 96

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

List of South African Birds