Spot-breasted Ibis
Bostrychia rara
The Spot-breasted Ibis (Bostrychia rara) is a legendary ibises and spoonbill found in 12 countries, weighing about 866 g. The spot-breasted ibis is a small, forest-dwelling ibis found in African lowland forests and swampy forested areas.
About the Spot-breasted Ibis
The spot-breasted ibis is a small, forest-dwelling ibis found in African lowland forests and swampy forested areas. Its preference for dense rainforests in tropical Africa means that it is seldom seen and is vulnerable to deforestation.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The spot-breasted ibis is a small, dark ibis (around 47 cm (19 in)), with long legs and a long red bill. The adult has a long, loose crest at the back of its head, which is dark brown to black and glossy green. Its plumage varies, but most usually tends to be brownish-blue. The mantle is brown and edged buff, but with a shiny green color. The rump and tail are blue-green, and the tail is slightly blue-green. It has blue-black wings and black underwing. The scapulars and the inner secondaries have an iridescent bronze green. Voice: They are usually silent and furtive when feeding on the ground. At dawn and dusk birds call in flight, giving a loud, raucous "ha-han".
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Angola.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, August, October, November, December, with peak activity in October. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Spot-breasted Ibis?
- The spot-breasted ibis is a small, dark ibis (around 47 cm (19 in)), with long legs and a long red bill. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Spot-breasted Ibis?
- The Spot-breasted Ibis is a large sized bird weighing about 866 g.
- Where can you see a Spot-breasted Ibis?
- The Spot-breasted Ibis occurs in 12 countries, including Ghana, Congo - Kinshasa, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo - Brazzaville and Zambia.
- What birds look similar to a Spot-breasted Ibis?
- The Spot-breasted Ibis is most easily confused with the Olive Ibis, the Sao Tome Ibis and the Wattled Ibis.
- Is the Spot-breasted Ibis endangered?
- The Spot-breasted Ibis is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Spot-breasted Ibis for real
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