Sacred Ibis

Sacred Ibis

(Threskiornisaethiopicus)

Photographed at

Flamingo Hotel Aviary, Las Vegas, Navada     Aug 2010

Toronto Zoo, Toronto Canada        Sep 2011

Sacred Ibises are common in East Africa and are found throughout Africa south of the Sahara. They frequent marshes, swamps, riverbanks, pastures and ploughed fields.

They were once common along the Nile River, but have been absent from Egypt for over a hundred years. The ancient Egyptians believed that their god Thoth sometimes came to earth in the form of a Sacred Ibis.

They are white with black plumes that form a loose net across the back, closed wings and tail. Legs and feet are black. When this ibis flies, bare patches of skin under the wings and at the sides of the breasts show as scarlet. The head and neck are bare and covered with black, scaly skin once the bird is about 2 years old. Until then they are feathered white, mottled with black

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