Hadada Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash hagedash) 20 March 2018. Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Western Cape, South Africa.
Hadada Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash)


The red culmen indicates this is an adult. This species is common and increasingly widespread in Sub-Saharan Africa, but appears to be more common in settled areas where it has adapted well to irrigated fields and suburban gardens. It is pronounced "Ha DEE Dah" by the locals. Roberts 7th and the SASOL guide spell the name "Hadeda." Either way, the name is onomatopoeia for the loud, raucous cries the bird often gives, especially in flight. Three or four subspecies are recognized. This is nominate B. h. hagedash, with the more northerly races being darker and longer billed. Canon PowerShot SX50 HS.

References:

Brown, L.H., Urban, E.L., Newman, K. (1982) The Birds of Africa, Vol. I. Academic Press. London.

Hockey, PAR, WRJ Dean, and PG Ryan, eds. 2005. Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. 7th ed. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund.

Matheu, E., del Hoyo, J., Garcia, E.F.J., Bonan, A. & Boesman, P. (2018). Hadada Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/52765 on 26 June 2018).

Sinclair, I., Hockey, P.A.R., Arlott, N. (2005). The Larger Illustrated Guide to Birds of Southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town.
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