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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.
References and further reading
A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 165Birds 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
Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 10
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
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 - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 58