Bird Guide

Olive Ibis

Bostrychia olivacea

Least ConcernInvertebratesForestPlatform nestLarge · 1.1 kg

About the Olive Ibis

The olive ibis is a species of ibis native to dense tropical forests in central Africa. Between 65 and 75 cm in length, it is a small ibis with olive plumage displaying an iridescent sheen. Four subspecies are recognized.

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

ID tip

This relatively small ibis measures 65–75 cm in length, depending on subspecies. Recorded wing lengths in the various subspecies are 330–334 mm in olivacea, 309–355 mm in cupreipennis, 343–372 mm in akeleyorum, and 328 mm and 313 mm in males and females respectively of rothschildi. The culmen in olivacea measures 95–96 mm. Single male specimens of the subspecies akeleyorum, cupreipennis and rothschildi have reported culmen lengths of 108 mm, 85 mm and 95 mm respectively; with the corresponding lengths on females being 102 mm, 94 mm and 90 mm respectively. B. o. Voice: The call is a distinctive, loud, squawky "gar-wa", repeated several times and uttered in flight high above the trees. Reportedly, it only vocalizes in flight and then only during twilight. The rothschildi subspecies instead utters a call described as "HAAN-ha HAAN-ha". Other calls have been transcribed as "aka-a", "ka" and "kau".

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where the Olive Ibis lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in Liberia.

When to see the Olive Ibis

Peak activity in February · a variable species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Learn the Olive Ibis in BeakBrain

Photo and call practice, free in any browser.

Play BeakBrain

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.