Hadada Ibis

Bostrychia hagedash

A gray-brown African ibis with shiny green-purple wings, named for its loud "haa-haa-haa-de-dah" call.

🪿 Wading Birds

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About the Hadada Ibis

Hadada ibises are long-legged wading birds of sub-Saharan Africa. They live along wooded streams and rivers in grasslands and savanna woodlands. They are gray to brown with a shiny greenish-purple sheen on the wings. They eat mostly insects, worms, snails and small reptiles.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Bostrychia hagedash^[2]
Diet: Insects, worms, snails and small reptiles.^[1]
Habitat: Wooded streams and rivers in grassland and savanna woodland.^[1]
Where it lives: Sub-Saharan Africa.^[1]
Group life: Breeds in single pairs.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2016).^[2]

Fun facts

The hadada is named after its loud call.^[1]
Hadadas sometimes nest on telephone poles.^[1]
They often reuse the same nest site every year.^[1]

Vocabulary

ibis: A wading bird with a long, down-curved bill.
iridescent: Showing shimmering colors that change with the angle of light.
savanna: A grassland with scattered trees.
wading bird: A long-legged bird that walks in shallow water to find food.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and AquariumOmaha, Nebraska · Simmons Aviary and LagoonSee this area on the zoo's website ↗

Sources

[1] Oregon Zoo. “Hadada ibis.” https://www.oregonzoo.org/animals/hadada-ibis (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Bostrychia hagedash (Hadada Ibis).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697463/93614797 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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