The wattled ibis is a species of bird in the family Threskiornithidae. It is endemic to the Ethiopian highlands and is found only in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Region
Horn of Africa
Typical Environment
Found across the Ethiopian Highlands, including central and northern Ethiopia and adjacent highland Eritrea. It occupies open upland habitats such as moorlands, montane grasslands, pastures, and cultivated fields, as well as wetlands, lake shores, and river margins. The species also frequents rocky cliffs and forest edges, especially in traditional church forests. It commonly roosts on cliffs or tall trees and readily uses urban green spaces in highland towns and cities.
Altitude Range
1500–4100 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The wattled ibis is the only ibis species restricted to the Ethiopian Highlands, occurring in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It adapts well to human-altered landscapes and is frequently seen in urban parks, church forests, and cultivated fields. A conspicuous white shoulder patch flashes in flight, and a small red wattle hangs from the throat—features that help distinguish it from other dark ibises.
Temperament
social and alert
Flight Pattern
strong flier with steady, deliberate wingbeats
Social Behavior
Often in pairs or small to medium flocks, especially when feeding or commuting to roosts. Roosts communally on cliffs or tall trees and may nest colonially. Nests are platforms of sticks lined with vegetation, placed on ledges or in large trees. Breeding generally coincides with or follows rainy periods.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are harsh, croaking calls and grating honks, often given in flight or at roost sites. Calls carry well across open highland landscapes and can sound like rough, nasal trumpets.
