Hadeda Ibis

Afrikaans name: Hadeda

Photo © Steven Herbert

Bostrychia hagedash

The word Hadeda is sometimes spelt Hadada. The name Hadeda is derived from their raucous call.

The distinctive features of this bird is its long bill and loud call. They are common in gardens in some areas and are very vocal even calling at night when they are disturbed.

The Hadeda Ibis feeds off insects, worms, millipedes, small reptiles and other small creatures. It is often seen patrolling lawns and then digging with its long bill when it senses something is there. When digging they find their prey by touch rather than sight.

Hadedas are about 75 cm in length. They are greyish in colour with a metallic purple sheen in the right light. Their bills are black with a red strip along the top.

The Hadeda Ibis nests in trees. They do not form colonies like other ibises. The Hadeda is found in a variety of habitats including gardens, parks, forest, savanna, woodland and grassland.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	84	Hagedashia hagedash hagedash
2nd	84	Hagedashia hagedash
3rd	84	Hagedashia hagedash
4th	84	Hagedashia hagedash
5th	94	Bostrychia hagedash
6th	94	Bostrychia hagedash
7th	456	Bostrychia hagedash

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	84	Hadedah Ibis
2nd	84	Hadeda
3rd	84	Hadeda
4th	84	Hadeda
5th	94	Hadeda Ibis
6th	94	Hadeda Ibis
7th	456	Hadeda Ibis

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	84	Hagedas
2nd	84	Hadeda
3rd	84	Hadeda
4th	84	Hadeda
5th	94	Hadeda
6th	94	Hadeda
7th	456	Hadeda

References and further reading

Wild Issue 44 - Author: - Published: 2018 - Page: 60

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 40

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 38

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 44

Wading Birds of the World - Revised edition - Author: Eric and Richard Soothill - Published: 1989 - Page: 104

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 31

The Gardener - 2013/02 - Author: - Published: 2013 - Page: 60

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 107

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 31

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 58

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 20

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 75

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 70

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 56

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 74

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 182

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 39

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 52

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 84

Newmans Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 26

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 84

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 33

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 62

Geoff Lockwoods Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 157

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 51

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 178

Gamebirds and Waterfowl of Southern Africa - Author: CG Finch-Davies, Dr Alan Kemp - Published: 1986 - Page: 37

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 38

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 136

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 11

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 115

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 28

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 10

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 32

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 34

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 8

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 52

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 28

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 165

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 165

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 59

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 45

BirdLife South Africa

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