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Northern Bald Ibis

Geronticus eremita

Endangered · IUCN Red List

ENEndangeredInvertebratesRockyPlatform nestLarge · 1.2 kg
Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita), photo 1
Photo: MPF · CC BY 2.5
Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita), photo 2
Photo: gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K · CC BY 2.0
Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita), photo 3
Photo: William Stephens · CC BY 4.0
Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita), photo 4
Photo: avocat · CC BY 4.0
Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita), photo 5
Photo: avocat · CC BY 4.0
Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita), photo 6
Photo: Adi Peter · CC BY 4.0
Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita), photo 7
Photo: Adi Peter · CC BY 4.0
Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita), photo 8
Photo: MPF · CC BY 2.5
Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita), photo 9
Photo: gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K · CC BY 2.0
Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita), photo 10
Photo: William Stephens · CC BY 4.0

ID tip

The northern bald ibis is a large, glossy black bird, 70–80 cm (28–31 in) long with a 125–135 cm (49–53 in) wingspan and an average weight of 1.0–1.3 kg (35–46 oz). The plumage is black, with bronze-green and violet iridescence, and there is a wispy ruff on the bird's hind neck. The face and head are dull red and unfeathered, and the long, curved bill and the legs are red. In flight, this bird has powerful, shallow, and flexible wing beats. It gives guttural hrump and high, hoarse hyoh calls at its breeding colonies, but is otherwise silent.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Northern Bald Ibis

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 11 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is April, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Northern Bald Ibis

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 14 countries with regular records, and 6 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Spain Morocco Sweden Türkiye Italy Germany Austria Switzerland Israel Slovenia Greece Syria Croatia Albania

Recorded as a rare visitor in France, Belgium, Portugal, Denmark, United Kingdom, Netherlands.

About the Northern Bald Ibis

The northern bald ibis, hermit ibis, or Waldrapp is a migratory Old World ibis found in open areas such as grasslands, rocky mountains, and semi-deserts, often close to running water. This 70–80 cm (28–31 in) glossy black ibis, which, unlike many members of the ibis family, is non-wading, has an unfeathered red face and head, and a long, curved red bill. It breeds colonially on coastal or mountain cliff ledges, where it typically lays two to three eggs in a stick nest, and feeds on lizards, insects, and other small animals.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus) Southern Bald IbisGeronticus calvusThe southern bald ibis (Geronticus calvus) is an uncommon bird endemic to the highlands of the southern African region.

Side by side: Northern Bald Ibis vs Southern Bald Ibis · Northern Bald Ibis vs Sharp-tailed Ibis

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