What to Know About the Sacred Ibis in Uganda?

The Sacred Ibis in Uganda is one of the African Uganda Birds seen during birding in Uganda. It is a medium-sized unique species of a wading bird commonly called the Carlet ibis. It belongs to the Kingdom-Animalia, Phylum-Chordata, Class-Aves, Family-threskionithidae and order Ciconiiformes.

The sacred ibis has a length of 75cm, wingspan is 30cm and its weight is 1.35kg. it has a longevity of up to 20 years in captivity and 16 years in the wild.

How Does the Sacred Ibis in Uganda Look Like?

A sacred ibis is a medium sized bird with red plumage that come because of the carotene found in crustaceans it feeds.

Its feathers show a range of tints and shades with inky black wingtips. The bird is generally orange-red, with a long narrow curved red, occasionally blackish bill and long legs and neck.

The young sacred ibis has grey, brown and white plumage. The color changes for the juveniles begin at the time they start to fly, then the color change spreads all over the body, the process of changing color may take about 3 years. The sacred ibis is the only shorebird with the red bod color in the world.

How Does the Sacred Ibis in Uganda Sing and Make Calls?

Sacred ibis is a rather silent but, it can only be heard croaking during breeding on the grounds.

How Does the Sacred Ibis in Uganda Feed?

Sacred ibises use their narrow long bill to probe for Crustaceans, mollusks, fish, insects, frogs, and small snakes in mud or under plants.

Crustaceans probably help then to gain the red color. Under captivity, the sacred ibis is given a diet that contains beetroot and carrot supplements to maintain the bright red color.

How Does the Sacred Ibis in Uganda Nest?

A pair of sacred ibises builds an artless nest made of sticks they place it in canopies, usually mangrove trees nears the water body, they also prefer nesting in areas where their eggs and chicks won’t be easily affected by predators.

The parents take the initiative to defend their nest site until the chicks are large enough to defend themselves.

How Does the Sacred Ibis in Uganda Breed?

The male performs various courtship displays like preening, shaking, bill popping, head rubbing and high flights, trying to attract the female. After the male successfully won the female, the pair remains faithful.

How Does the Sacred Ibis in Uganda Reproduce?

Their gestation period takes between 5-6days, then the female lays between 3-5 smooth matte eggs. Incubation is between 19-23 days.

Sacred ibises are faithful birds, the remain responsible and take care of their chicks. Chicks are fed by their parents by regurgitation.