HADEDA IBIS
Bostrychia hagedash

iNkankane (Zulu) Hadeda (Afrikaans)

HABITAT
Found throughout the whole province of KwaZulu-Natal in grasslands, savannahs, woodland and in urban gardens.

TYPE
This is a large dark grey bird with a longish decurved bill and a harsh braying call heard mostly in the early mornings and late evenings which is very characteristic of this province. In bright sunlight the wing coverts have a green or blue metallic sheen. The eyes are dark brown, the bill black and the legs and feet are greyish black. There is a hint of red on the bill and toes.

BREEDING
They nest from October to January in KwaZulu-Natal building a flimsy platform of sticks on the horizontal branch of a tree. The bowl is lined with grass and lichen. The eggs usually number 2 and are a dull olive green in colour smudged with brown and red.

FOOD
They use their bill to probe in soil and mud eating insects and earthworms as well as crustaceans, molluscs and small invertebrates.

STATUS
An extremely common resident with an expanding range as urbanisation provides more suitable habitat