Birds · Pelecaniformes · Threskiornithidae

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It was venerated and mummified in Ancient Egypt as the embodiment of the god Thoth, with millions of mummies of this species found in ritual catacombs.

Weight

1.3 kg – 1.5 kg

Size

68 cm – 75 cm

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

FreshwaterOmnivore Diurnal Colonial Bird Freshwater

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Fun facts

It was venerated and mummified in Ancient Egypt as the embodiment of the god Thoth.
It died out as a breeding bird in Egypt centuries ago.
Its introduced populations in Europe are now considered invasive.
sentidosIt pushes its curved bill into the mud and finds prey through touch receptors, without needing to see it.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - pneumatised bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Marshes, wetlands and the banks of rivers and lakes across sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar and pockets of Iraq; introduced to southern Europe
Birth weight: Exact weight at hatching not found as a precise figure
Size at birth: Downy, with head and neck feathered at first, going gradually bare between 2 and 3 years
Sexual maturity: 4-5 years
Gestation / incubation: 21-29 days (usual reference ~28 days)
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 5 eggs per clutch (most commonly 2-3)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of 37 years in captivity

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animal Corner; Bright's Zoo; SA-Venues; Animal Diversity Web; The Birds; Wikipedia (African sacred ibis); US Fish & Wildlife Service