Haa-haa-haa-de-dah, haa-haa-haa-de-dah, Hadeda, every morning and every night. I spent two months hearing Hadeda Ibis from east to west across South Africa.
I first saw one Hadeda at Lover’s Rock Caravan Park not far from Johannesburg where Joan and I camped on my first night in South Africa. It feeds mainly on earthworms using its long scimitar-like bill to probe soft soil. It also eats larger insects, spiders, small lizards and snails.
Listen to the Hadeda Ibis sound
https://geogypsytraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/13-Hadeda.wma
(This is suppose to be audio of the Hadeda. If it’s not please let me know.)
Yet they usually move around in flocks numbering up to 20 birds, or 100 out of breeding season. Upon waking up outside Crocodile Gate at Kruger National Park, at the far west border with Mozambique, a large and noisy flock flew up out of the trees. They are particularly vocal at dawn and dusk on the way from and to their overnight roosts.
We saw the Hadedas at Mountain Zebra National Park in the Eastern Cape. They are large at about 30 inches (76 centimeters), grey to partly brown and have a narrow white horizontal stripe across its cheeks sometimes called the moustache. The plumage over the wings has an iridescent purple sheen. Its legs are blackish and the upper surfaces of the toes are red. The large grey to black bill has a red stripe on the upper mandible. Male and female look the same.
I saw Hadedas at St. Georges Park in Port Elizabeth along the Indian Ocean. They are found throughout open grasslands, savannas, wetlands, urban parks, school fields and large gardens.
I saw the Hadedas at Rodene Farms where I stayed in Ceres in the Western Cape. As I watched sunset from the dam they flew noisily into the trees in great numbers. They often use the same roost site year-round, and year after year, although wander several miles away to forage during the day.
I also saw and heard the Hadedas at at many other places, they seem to be everywhere.
HI Gaelyn, I have these same birds calling (raucously!) in my garden, morning and night. They make beautiful photo subjects and sit still on an exposed branch for as long as you need! I copied and pasted your animal sound link onto explorer and heard the call. (((hugs))) Jo
They are beautiful, and noisy. Glad the link worked for you that way.
I’ve never heard of such a bird. Very interesting.
Kind of like they are laughing at you.
You often end up hearing hadidas before you see them. We have a lot around our area and my one sausage dog absolutely hates them
I definitely knew they were coming. Funny about the dog.
Our sacred I bis are all over the place too but happily a fair bit quieter.
I saw Sacred Ibis also, but never heard them.
What an interesting little bird! I had to cut and paste the sound link in my browser and it still didn’t work. 🙁
I’m sorry Cheryl. Had a heck of a time getting this sound bite in. Might recommend trying a different browser as it may not work with IE.
Only their curved bills look like the white ibis I’m familiar with. What a sound they make. The first one “singing??” alone made me laugh out loud it sounded like an Aunt I had when she would laugh. That’s some loud noise to wake up to and go to bed to. Great post of something I may never get to experience without you. THANKS!!
I too have seen other Ibis but never heard them make a noise like this.
Weird sound for sure. Never heard of them before!
I could always hear them coming.
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They sound like old women at Bingo!!! LOL!!!! Not the most pleasant sounding but what a call they have!!! And a good looking bird! Thanks for sharing…..another new bird I learned about today:)
I could always hear them before seeing them. I’m way behind sharing some of the birds I saw in South Africa.
I was saving this because I can’t always listen to audio (tiny house, two people, my earphones are broken)….so here I am and the link doesn’t work. hadeha on me! I can kind of imagine it though. Once years ago I called my mom from a Texas beach, while the laughing gulls were…well, laughing. She was sure we were sitting in a noisy bar.
Sorry, my first time adding audio and I think it only works on certain browsers. But I think you have the idea.