African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

In ancient Egypt, the Sacred Ibis was mummified by the millions as a living symbol of Thoth, the god of wisdom, writing, and magic.

Scientific name: Threskiornis aethiopicus
Taxonomy: Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Pelecaniformes › Threskiornithidae › Threskiornis
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: wetland
Habitat: Marshes, swamps, riverbanks, lake shores, agricultural fields, and coastal lagoons.
Diet: Carnivorous; feeds on insects, frogs, fish, small mammals, mollusks, and carrion.
Range: Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, Iraq, Egypt (historically)
Size: Wingspan of 112-124 cm, weight of 1.3-1.5 kg, height around 65-89 cm.
Lifespan: Up to 20 years in the wild
Active: diurnal
Threats: Wetland drainage, pollution, habitat degradation, and pesticide accumulation.
Safe to approach?: Harmless to humans. Maintain a respectful distance of 10 to 15 meters to prevent flushing the bird, especially when nesting. Do not attempt to feed. If you must handle an injured individual, wear thick gloves to protect against its sharp, probing beak, and wash any scratches thoroughly with soap and water.

The African sacred ibis ( Threskiornis aethiopicus ) is a species of ibis. Its sister species is the Australian white ibis.

Photo: no rights reserved, CC0, via iNaturalist