Fun Hadada Ibis Facts For Kids

The hadada ibis (Bostrychia hagedash) is a species of ibises that find their native land in Sub-Saharan Africa and its open grasslands or marshes. They are thought by indigenous people to be symbolic of rain and good harvest as is popularized through mythical folklore.

This species is characterized and named through their unique and typical call which sounds like 'ha-da-da'.

They are medium-sized, stout birds that have a long, curved bill. Their body has glossy green and brownish-black feathers that make them easy to recognize. Another factor that helps us to easily recognize a hadada ibis is the red stripe that runs across its upper mandible. Their bill is crucial for them since it helps to find food.

They are a peaceful species that mainly depends on worms and insects for food. When kept as a pet or in a zoo, they adapt to a frugivorous diet which is quite convenient for the pet-parent or caretaker.

If you like learning about different species of birds, you should definitely take the time out to check glossy ibis and giant ibis here at Kidadl!

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Hadada Ibis Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a hadada ibis?

The hadada ibis is a bird that is mainly found in grasslands and marshy areas in and around South Africa. It is considered one of the few raucous birds of the area due to their loud call and the tendency to damage domestic gardens in search of prey.

What class of animal does a hadada ibis belong to?

This species is classified as Aves which we popularly recognize as birds.

How many hadada ibises are there in the world?

There is no conclusive study that could tell us the exact number of hadada ibises that there are in the world, but their conservation status does suggest that their numbers are not facing any chances of decline in the near future.

Where does a hadada ibis live?

The hadada ibis tends to prefer living in savannas, open grasslands, and marshes. They prefer damp areas for their habitat since it becomes tough for them to find prey if the soil is dry and rough.

What is a hadada ibis' habitat?

The habitat of Bostrychia hagedashis largely contained within South Africa. They are common throughout places such as Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania.

Who do hadada ibises live with?

The hadada ibis is a particularly peaceful and sociable species. They fare well when in the company of other species and cause no harm to them. They also tend to roost and nest in colonies which suggests that this species is not solitary.

How long does a hadada ibis live?

A hadada ibis, when provided with favorable conditions and ample food, can live up to 20 years. They are particularly hardy and can withstand a lot of climactic change.

How do they reproduce?

The Bostrychia hagedashis an oviparous species which means that they are egg-layers. The male of this species can be observed to court the female through preening and neck-bending rituals. The male also gathers materials for the nest where both the parent birds share the responsibilities during incubation.

The female hadada ibis can lay up to six eggs in one gestational term, and can be seen to roost on them during incubation. When the eggs hatch, they are fed by both the birds until they are around 49 days old and have matured enough to leave the nest and find prey on their own.

What is their conservation status?

According to the IUCN, the conservation status of Bostrychia hagedashis of Least Concern which means that their habitat or life expectancy is unlikely to face any immediate threat.

Hadada Ibis Fun Facts

What do hadada ibises look like?

The hadada ibis (Bostrychia hagedash or Hagedashia hagedash) is a rather common bird in South Africa. Their feathers are usually brown or black with a few beautifully glossy, green ones on their wings.

They are characterized by the red stripe that runs throughout the length of their upper mandible. They use their beautiful long, curved bill to probe through damp soil and find their prey.

A hadada ibis chick, while its still bound to its nest to roost, uses its bill to probe inside the parent's mouth in order to feed on regurgitated food. They are born almost naked, with a brown or blackish color.

How cute are they?

With their stout build, slender, curved bill and beautiful plumage and long legs, hadada ibises can be considered very cute. While their call might be very noisy and unpleasant for you to wake up to, their peaceful nature makes up for the inconveniences caused.

How do they communicate?

This species usually communicates through its unique call and elaborate postures.

How big is a hadada ibis?

This species typically has a wingspan of about 26-30 in (66.4-76.2 cm) which allows them to be fair flyers. Their height can range from 13-15 in (33.2-38.1 cm).

How fast can a hadada ibis move?

While their exact speed is not known, it is possible that their wingspan allows them to only achieve mediocre speeds.

How much does a hadada ibis weigh?

The bird of the Bostrychia hagedashspecies usually weighs just around 2-3 lb (0.9-1.3 kg).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no specified names for the males and females of this species, in spite of the difference that can be observed in the two sexes. We would simply call the comparatively smaller bird, a female hadada ibis and the larger bird with a longer bill is a male hadada ibis.

What would you call a baby hadada ibis?

Baby hadada ibis birds are calls nestlings or chicks, like the rest of the class of Aves.

What do they eat?

Bostrychia hagedashis a predominantly carnivorous species. They feed mainly on insects such as grasshoppers, worms such as centipedes or any crustaceans such as crabs that they can find as they probe through the ground with their unique bill.

Are they dangerous?

The hadada ibis is a very peaceful species. When in the same social circle as other animals, they can hardly be found to be attacking or causing any trouble.

Would they make a good pet?

This species is not usually kept as a pet, but the fact that their diet can easily be changed to a frugivorous one suggests that domestication is possible. It would be essential, however, to not isolate them so that they are not in distress.

If you do want to see an ibis, however, you can always go to a zoo such as in Oregon to observe their glossy plumage and hear the unique 'ha-da-daa' sound.

Did you know...

Hadada ibis chicks feed on the food that their parents regurgitate for the first 45-49 days of their lives.

The Hadeda or (Bostrychia hagedash) Hadada can be eaten, although, it is illegal to kill them for consumption in South Africa.

You can tell between a glossy ibis and hadada ibis through the color difference in their plumage. The latter has a darker color of feathers.

What does the hadada ibis's call sound like?

This bird is quite literally named after its call. If you ever happen to be in South Africa and hear a 'ha-da-da' call have no doubts about it being a hadada ibis. They are usually noisy in the breeding months to claim territories.

What do ibises symbolize?

In the parts of the world where different species of ibises such as the hadada ibis and sacred ibis occur in large numbers, popular folklore has attached a certain significance to them. People think of them to be an omen of rain and good harvest.

Whenever people of a particular community spot a flock of ibises flying nearby, they rejoice at the possibility of rain and new life.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our giant cowbird facts or puffin facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable hadada Ibis coloring pages.