The Hadada ibis (Bostrychia hagedash) is a long-legged wading bird native to Sub-Saharan Africa. It is named for its loud three to four-note calls uttered in flight especially in the mornings and evenings when they fly out or return to their roost trees. Although not as dependent on water as some ibises, they are found near wetlands and often live in close proximity to humans.
Hadada ibises are large grey-to-partly brown birds. Males and females are alike in plumage. They have a narrow, white, roughly horizontal stripe across their cheeks. This is sometimes called the "mustache" though it does not reach the mouth corners. The plumage over the wings has an iridescent purple sheen produced by optical microstructures within the feathers. Hadada ibises have blackish legs and a large grey-to-black bill but during the breeding season, they have a red culmen on the basal half of the upper mandible. The upper surfaces of their toes are of a similar red during the onset of breeding. The wings are powerful and broad, enabling quick take-offs and easy maneuvering through dense tree cover.
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