The African Sacred Ibis, an iconic bird revered in antiquity and now naturalized in Europe.
The Bird of the Pharaohs, Now a World Traveler
The African Sacred Ibis is a wader with an instantly recognizable silhouette, its history deeply intertwined with one of the world's greatest civilizations. Venerated in ancient Egypt as the incarnation of the god Thoth, this bird, originally from sub-Saharan Africa, has a presence that far exceeds its mythological importance. Now extinct in Egypt, it thrives throughout the rest of Africa and, following escapes from zoological parks, has successfully established viable populations in Europe, particularly in France. This adaptable bird, with its long, curved bill, has traded the banks of the Nile for the wetlands, coasts, and even the agricultural landscapes of the modern world.
Our Ornithologist's Tip
By the Les-Oiseaux.com team, published on August 15, 2025.
My personal tip: To observe the African Sacred Ibis, explore vast wetlands, estuaries, and coastal marshes, where it often moves in groups. But don't overlook inland areas! It is increasingly found in freshly plowed fields and damp meadows, where it probes the soil with its bill in search of food. Its white plumage contrasting with its black head makes it highly visible from a distance.
📜 Travel through time with the Sacred Ibis!
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Identifying the African Sacred Ibis: Key Features
The African Sacred Ibis is a large wader, measuring 65 to 75 cm (26–30 in) in length with a wingspan of 112 to 124 cm (44–49 in). Its silhouette is robust and unique.
Plumage: The body is entirely white, strongly contrasting with its other parts. In flight, black secondary and primary flight feathers are visible, forming a dark border at the rear of the wing.
Head and Neck: The head and neck are bare, covered with black skin and devoid of feathers in adults.
Bill: Long, thick, and sharply downcurved, it is black in color. This is its primary tool for probing mud and soil.
Sexual Dimorphism: Males and females are identical in appearance, with the male being slightly larger. Juveniles have a head and neck initially covered in whitish and blackish feathers, which disappear with age.
Legs: Long and black.
Not to be confused with...
Little Egret
Entirely white plumage but is distinguished by its slender, straight black bill and fully feathered head.
The African Sacred Ibis is generally silent away from its nesting colonies. It is within the heronries and roosts that its vocalizations can be heard. These are not very melodious and consist of a series of hoarse grunts, croaks, and wheezes, contributing to the often noisy atmosphere of these gathering sites.
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Behavior: A Sociable Opportunist
The African Sacred Ibis is a highly gregarious bird, living, feeding, and nesting in groups that can number several hundred individuals. Its most common foraging technique involves walking slowly in shallow water or on soft ground, sweeping and probing the substrate with its long, sensitive bill.
Its diet is extremely broad, which is one of the keys to its success. It consumes aquatic and terrestrial insects, worms, crustaceans, and mollusks, as well as larger prey such as frogs, reptiles, fish, small mammals, and the eggs or chicks of other birds. It is also a scavenger and frequently visits public landfills.
Nesting occurs in large colonies, often alongside other species like herons, egrets, and cormorants. The nest is a platform of twigs built in a tree, bush, or on the ground on protected islands. The female lays 2 to 4 eggs, which both parents incubate for about 28 days. The young are fed by regurgitation and fledge after about 40 days.
Habitat and Distribution
Native to sub-Saharan Africa and southeastern Iraq, the African Sacred Ibis is associated with a wide variety of open, wet, or dry environments. It is found on the shores of lakes and rivers, in marshes, estuaries, floodplains, as well as in agricultural lands, grasslands, and urban areas. Its adaptability allows it to thrive in habitats heavily modified by humans.
Although it disappeared from Egypt in the 19th century, it has seen a spectacular expansion in other regions. Individuals that escaped from captivity have formed thriving feral populations in Europe, particularly on the Atlantic coast of France, in Italy, and in Spain, since the 1990s.
Distribution Map
Conservation Status
The African Sacred Ibis is classified as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List. This classification is due to its very large natural range in Africa and its global population, which is estimated to be large and stable.
However, its status is complex. While globally not threatened, it is locally extinct in its most famous historical range, Egypt. At the same time, in regions where it has been introduced, such as France, it is considered an invasive alien species. Its expanding populations can compete with local wildlife and cause significant damage to heritage bird colonies, especially terns and gulls, by preying on their eggs and chicks. Management and regulation plans for its populations are thus in place in several European countries.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the African Sacred Ibis
Why was the Sacred Ibis so important in ancient Egypt?
The Sacred Ibis was revered in ancient Egypt because it was associated with Thoth, the god of wisdom, knowledge, and writing. Thoth was often depicted with the head of an ibis. Millions of ibises were mummified and buried in catacombs in his honor. Paradoxically, the species is now extinct in the wild in Egypt.
What does the African Sacred Ibis eat?
The Sacred Ibis is a highly opportunistic feeder. Its varied diet includes insects, crustaceans, mollusks, fish, frogs, small reptiles, and small mammals. It does not hesitate to scavenge on carrion and forage in garbage dumps, which facilitates its adaptation to new environments.
Is the African Sacred Ibis an endangered species?
No, globally, the African Sacred Ibis is listed as 'Least Concern' by the IUCN because its population is large and stable across its vast African range. However, it is considered an invasive alien species in some countries, such as France, where it can negatively impact local bird populations, particularly terns and herons.
