The Hadeda Ibis does not rank highly as most people's favourite garden bird, probably because of their raucous, trumpeting call that can build to a deafening cacophony.
The Hadeda Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash) is a large (76cm) bird with a brownish-grey head, nape and neck. Despite their seemingly drab appearance, their rump and wing feathers have a beautiful metallic purple and green sheen. They use their long, black bill to probe into the soil in search of earthworms.

A visit from a hadeda is a sign of a healthy garden, teeming with smaller wildlife species. Their probing search assists with the aerating of soil and the control of insect populations. Apart from earthworms, their diet consists of slugs and snails, spiders, crickets, insects on the ground and small reptiles (lizards and frogs). They have been known to occasionally eat dog food from bowls. They will visit a ground level water feature to drink and bathe.
Despite their notorious racket, they are generally only vocal at dawn or when disturbed. It's common to have 2 or 3 birds visiting the garden. As they are territorial, chances are you'll have the same birds frequenting your garden. They are usually seen foraging in silence on the ground and if disturbed, will noisily fly to perch on roofs or tall trees. They build their nests in the fork of large trees usually 4-5 metres above the ground.

Another annoyance to some people is their large droppings which can mess paving. It will easily wash off with the spray from a hosepipe and makes a good fertiliser.
So next time you're annoyed by a hadeda's call, remember its important contribution to your gardening endeavours.


*images courtesy of Neil Ebedes, www.ebedesbirds.co.za


























We have a gorgeous pair of Hadedas in our garden, with 3 chicks at the moment. Unfortunately the bird mites are literally falling off the tree in hoards, poor things must be madly infested! Anyone have any experience here?
Hi Han
Thanks for visiting our site.
I'm glad to hear that you've a hadeda family sharing your garden. As these are wild birds, it's probably best to check with an organisation such as Friends of Free Wildlife about what their recommendations are regarding the mites.
Flourish!
Glenice
Recently a couple of hadedas has moved into our thorn tree, they have stsrted a nest. She is sitting on it for about 10 days and he brings twigs and little branches to build the nest around her. It is so cute to see the tenderness they show to each other. Saw them mating, i guess that means another egg. I love observing them.
Hi Barbara
Thanks for visiting our site.
I'm glad to hear we're not alone in admiring these amazing creatures. You've a privilege to witness their incredible life cycle on your doorstep.
Flourish!
Glenice
We also have pair breeding in a Rooiessenhout tree. Magalieskruin
Hi Elsa
Thanks for visiting our site.
I'm glad to hear you've a pair of these special birds in your garden and can enjoy watching the cycle of life unfold on your doorstep.
Flourish!
Glenice
Hi there,
We have a Hadeda that comes to nest in our tree every year. It’s become a bit of a tradition — they build their nest, raise their chicks, and eventually the little ones grow up and fly off.
This year started out the same way. The pair hatched one tiny baby, and it had reached the nestling stage — still quite small but growing fast and even had a few feathers. Everything seemed to be going perfectly. But last night, we had a terrible storm, and the nest was knocked out of the tree. Sadly, we found the baby on the ground this morning — it didn’t make it.
The parents have been calling nonstop for about 2 hours now, in such a distressed screeching kind of way. It’s honestly one of the saddest things I’ve ever heard. I wish I knew how to comfort or help them. 💔
Please tell me what I should/can do..🙏🏼
Hi Kaylin
Thanks for visiting our site and sorry that you've had this terrible experience.
Hadedas do display behaviour akin to mourning which can continue for about 14 days. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do apart from leaving them to go through this period with minimal disturbance. As we are at the beginning of the breeding season, there is a strong chance that the couple may try again and hopefully the next attempt will have a happy ending.
Flourish!
Glenice
Hi Glenice,
After about 3 years of digging compost into our micro-farm vege beds I have now put 2 inches of horse manure on the surface of the beds as a mulch,no more digging in. This has worked wonders for the earthworm regeneration in our soil which seemed to have no sign of them when we started on the plot which was just veld grass.
Of course now we get a few groups of 4 or more Hadedahs visiting every day.
I just hope they leave some of the earthworms behind and eat all the cutworms out : ) They love the beds as they can push their beaks all the way down and pull up their food.
Very peacefull birds until they use their voice.
There is a group of hadadas that visit my garden daily. One of them has always looked scruffy and smaller than the rest. He is a very scrappy bird that often gets picked on by his peers but gives as good as he gets. He seems to eat and drink well (from what I can see) but his scruffy looking feathers bother me. Could there be something wrong with him?
Hi Natasha
Thanks for visiting our site.
Birds that are a little smaller than the rest with scruffy-looking feathers are usually juveniles. I think what you're experiencing is a youngster being toughened or disciplined rather than being picked on.
Enjoy your wildlife experiences.
Flourish!
Glenice
I love my hadedas and I make sure they have water and feel safe. However one of them I assume dad looks a bit scruffy with some messy feathers around and I notice walking with a bit of difficulty and one leg is lift when he is resting: he can fly still and he was grassing on my lawn but I wonder what I can do to help him
Hi Ana
Thanks for visiting our site.
It sounds like your resident hadeda has an injured foot. It could be battling with the infection which is has detracted from his preening frequency hence the scruffy feathers.
Apart from providing a safe space and water, you probably should just have to allow him time to heal.
Flourish!
Glenice
We have 2 Hadedahs that have been in our garden for about 4 years. The Hadedahs have built a nest in one of our trees and every year they have about 6 eggs and the babies hatch but they all end up on the ground dead and was wondering if we should so something. Is that normal, so we dismantle the nest? It's not a very sturdy one or do we put a net to catch the little one
Hi Desire
Thanks for visiting our site.
The hadedas will have a successful brood if the conditions are favourable so we'll have to wait patiently and allow nature to run its course. There could be several factors for the loss of the chicks - wind or predators are the most common reasons in suburban gardens.
Flourish!
Glenice
We seem to have a young Hadeda in our garden that can't fly. It doesn't appear to be visibly hurt though. I think the mom or another adult Hadeda keeps making a ton of noise and comes to check on the young one and seems a bit distressed that it's not flying.
I don't want someone to come and fetch the young one to check on it because I don't want it separated from its mom (if that is the mom) because she seems very protective and stressed.
Could you please help with some advice? We really don't mind them in our garden as we have quite a lot of them here but I'm worried about this one.
Thank you!
Hi Leigh
Thanks for visiting our site.
Hopefully by now, your young Hadeda has started flying and is safely perching in a tree.
Sometimes the chicks fall out of the nest before they can fly. As you've witnessed, the parents are usually close by and feed it on the ground until it is strong enough to fly to a place of safety. In these instances, it's best to leave them and if necessary, keep any pets away from the area. It is usually only for a few days as the chicks develop relatively fast.
Flourish!
Glenice
Hi I have a pair of hadedas in my garden. I was just checking on them. I know they have a chic approx 20cm high. But when I checked today there seems to be a very much younger chic in the same nest. Am I seeing this. I tried googling with no answer. Is this possible, or are my eyes deceiving me.
Hi Michelle
Thanks for visiting our site.
Hadedas can lay between 2 and 5 eggs which hatch at different intervals. The size difference could possibly because you're looking a a younger chick in the nest that you perhaps overlooked previously.
Flourish!
Glenice
Good day. I have a chick in the garden since this morning. The problem is my doggy goes crazy for these birds and I need to get the bird to safety. Its the only garden side I have so no option to keep the doggy away.
Hi Carmen
Apologies for the late reply.
Should you have a situation like this again, it may be best to contact the local wildlife rehabilitation centre (such as Friends of Free Wildlife) who may be able to rescue the chick to ensure its safety.
Flourish!
Glenice