Common name: African Sacred Ibis
Scientific name: Threskiornis aethiopicus
Family: Threskiornithidae

Size:
Length: 65–89 cm
Wingspan: 112–124 cm
Weight: 1–1.5 kg

Identification:
A medium-sized wading bird with a striking black-and-white appearance. The body is mostly white, while the head and neck are bare and black. It has a long, slender, downward-curved black bill adapted for probing in mud. The legs are also black, and in flight, the contrasting dark flight feathers stand out against the white body.

Habitat:
Wetlands, marshes, lakes, riverbanks, coastal lagoons, and tidal mudflats. Also adapts to agricultural lands and urban environments where food is available.

Status in the UAE:
Introduced and locally established. Often associated with urban wetlands, parks, and artificial water bodies, where it can form stable populations.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds on fish, amphibians, insects, crustaceans, small invertebrates, and occasionally carrion. Forages by probing mud and shallow water with its curved bill.

Behavior:
Highly social, often seen in groups or large colonies. Nests communally with other waterbirds such as herons and storks. Builds nests from sticks and reeds in trees or dense vegetation near water. Both parents share incubation and chick-rearing duties.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)