Black-faced Ibis vs African Sacred Ibis

Theristicus melanopis compared with Threskiornis aethiopicus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Black-faced Ibis African Sacred Ibis
Scientific Name Theristicus melanopis Threskiornis aethiopicus
Order Pelecaniformes Pelecaniformes
Family Threskiornithidae Threskiornithidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 76.4 cm (30.1 in) 72.8 cm (28.7 in)
Weight 1612.5 g (56.88 oz) 1522.0 g (53.69 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 2-3 2-3
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Black-faced Ibis only

African Sacred Ibis only

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Black-faced Ibis

Least Concern

African Sacred Ibis

About These Birds

Black-faced Ibis

71 cm. White head; black face mask and back; buff underparts; bare black-and-red facial skin; pink legs. Resident in southern South America (Chile, Argentina) and Andean foothills. Feeds on invertebrates in grasslands and wetlands. Moves seasonally; some populations migratory.

African Sacred Ibis

65–89 cm. White with bare black head and neck; black wingtips; red underwing stripe. Widespread sub-Saharan Africa, Nile Delta, and naturalised in southern Europe and elsewhere. Feeds by probing in wetlands and grasslands for invertebrates. Colonial breeder; associated with ancient Egyptian mythology.

More Birds to Explore