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A northern bald ibis with glossy dark feathers and a red bill feeding in grass.
Photo: Len Worthington, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Northern Bald Ibis

Geronticus eremita

A glossy black ibis with a bald red head, also called the waldrapp, that was once common in Europe and is now one of the world's rarest birds.

🪿 Wading Birds
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About the Northern Bald Ibis

Northern bald ibises, also called waldrapps, have glossy black feathers that shine green, violet and blue, a bare red head, a shaggy ruff and a long, curved red bill. They use the sensitive bill to pluck insects from soil and water, and also eat snails, small reptiles, fish, mice, worms, berries and water plants. They live in open, dry areas, coasts, wetlands and rocky places.[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name
Geronticus eremita[1]
Lifespan
About 24 years.[1]
Diet
Omnivore. Insects, snails, small reptiles, fish, mice, worms, carrion, berries and water plants.[1]
Habitat
Open dry areas, coastlines, wetlands, riverbanks and rocky areas.[1]
Where it lives
Small areas of Morocco, Syria and Turkey.[1]
Group life
Flocks of a few to about 100. Nests in colonies on cliffs.[1]
Babies
2 to 4 eggs, incubated 24 to 28 days by both parents.[1]
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN Red List, assessed 2018).[2]

Fun facts

  • Young ibises don't get their full adult feathers until about age seven.[1]
  • The waldrapp was considered sacred in ancient Egypt.[1]
  • Some wild colonies in Turkey are made up entirely of zoo-hatched birds.[1]

Vocabulary

ibis
A wading bird with a long, down-curved bill.
iridescent
Showing shimmering colors that change with the angle of light.
ruff
A collar of feathers or fur around the neck.
colony
A large group of animals of one kind that live or nest together.
endangered
A conservation label meaning a species faces a very high risk of dying out in the wild.

See it in person

Sources

  1. [1] San Francisco Zoo & Gardens. “Waldrapp Ibis.” https://www.sfzoo.org/waldrapp-ibis/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
  2. [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Geronticus eremita (Northern Bald Ibis).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697488/130895601 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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