Hadada Ibis

More Information

Hadada ibises are large birds with brownish-gray plumage that displays an iridescent green sheen in sunlight. These birds hunt by dragging their long, curved bills in murky streams and grabbing any insect or small lizard they touch. Males provide nesting material, such as sticks and twigs, to females, who may build their nest at the top of a tall tree or, in urban areas, a telephone poll. Both sexes participate in incubating eggs and caring for hatchlings.

Did You Know?

• Hadada ibises are the only known ibises to eat fruits and vegetables.
• Pairs prepare for breeding with courtship displays such as bowing, offering sticks to one another, intertwining their necks, mutual preening, and shaking their heads.
• These birds were named for their distinctive call: a loud “ha-da-da” sound.