Photo: Steve Garvie from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
African Sacred Ibis
Threskiornis aethiopicus
African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of Africa.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) is a member of the Threskiornithidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.5 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pelecaniformes
- Family Threskiornithidae Ibises, Spoonbills
- Genus Threskiornis
- Species aethiopicus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.5 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Threskiornithidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The African Sacred Ibis hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The African Sacred Ibis is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) is a member of the Threskiornithidae family, within the order Pelecaniformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Africa s of the Sahara, Iraq.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.5 kg, with a wing length of about 36.4 cm and a tail of around 14.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 17.7 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the African Sacred Ibis?
The African Sacred Ibis is a very large bird that weighs around 1.5 kg.
Where does the African Sacred Ibis live?
The African Sacred Ibis is found across Africa with a range covering AF Africa s of the Sahara, Iraq, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the African Sacred Ibis belong to?
The African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) belongs to the Threskiornithidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the African Sacred Ibis eat?
The African Sacred Ibis hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the African Sacred Ibis migrate?
The African Sacred Ibis is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the African Sacred Ibis endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the African Sacred Ibis make?
1 real field recording of the African Sacred Ibis can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the African Sacred Ibis's range?
The African Sacred Ibis has a mapped global range of about 17.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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