Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Endangered

Herons, Pelicans & Ibises

Northern Bald Ibis

Geronticus eremita

Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of Africa.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Germany Birds of Spain Birds of France Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of the Netherlands Birds of Portugal Birds of England Birds of Cheshire Birds of Tyne and Wear Birds of Lancashire

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The Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita) is a member of the Threskiornithidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.2 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

EN Endangered

Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Pelecaniformes
Family Threskiornithidae Ibises, Spoonbills
Genus Geronticus
Species eremita

Where it lives

Coastal west-central Morocco; nearly extinct central Syria; semicaptive in south-central Turkey; formerly much more widespread; now reintroduced locally in central, southern Europe

Africa

Quick facts

Weight: 1.2 kg
Diet: Invertebrate-eaters
Family: Threskiornithidae
Order: Pelecaniformes
Habitat: Grassland & open country

How to identify

Similar birds

Near Threatened

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Northern Bald Ibis is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Behaviour

A bird of rocky terrain, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Northern Bald Ibis is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita) is a member of the Threskiornithidae family, within the order Pelecaniformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF coastal wc Morocco; nearly extinct c Syria; semicaptive in sc Turkey; formerly much more widespread; now reintroduced locally in c, s Europe.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.2 kg, with a wing length of about 40.2 cm and a tail of around 18.4 cm.

It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 644 km² — a relatively restricted global range.

Songs & calls

Northern Bald Ibis — Call

Recorded by SonoNatura Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Northern Bald Ibis?

The Northern Bald Ibis is a very large bird that weighs around 1.2 kg.

Where does the Northern Bald Ibis live?

The Northern Bald Ibis is found across Africa with a range covering AF coastal wc Morocco; nearly extinct c Syria; semicaptive in sc Turkey; formerly much more widespread; now reintroduced locally in c, s Europe, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.

What family does the Northern Bald Ibis belong to?

The Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita) belongs to the Threskiornithidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.

What does the Northern Bald Ibis eat?

The Northern Bald Ibis is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the Northern Bald Ibis migrate?

The Northern Bald Ibis is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Northern Bald Ibis endangered?

It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

What sound does the Northern Bald Ibis make?

1 real field recording of the Northern Bald Ibis — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Northern Bald Ibis's range?

The Northern Bald Ibis has a mapped global range of about 644 km².