African Sacred Ibis vs Hadada Ibis

In short

The African Sacred Ibis and Hadada Ibis can be distinguished by their eye color: the Sacred Ibis has a pale whitish iris, while the Hadada Ibis features a dark red iris. Both species have similar structures, but their plumage and vocalizations offer additional clues.

Identification tips

• Eye color: Pale whitish iris (African Sacred Ibis) vs. dark red iris (Hadada Ibis).
• Plumage: White with black accents (African Sacred Ibis) vs. uniformly dark with metallic sheen (Hadada Ibis).

Plumage

The African Sacred Ibis is predominantly white with black on the head, neck, and wing tips, whereas the Hadada Ibis is more uniformly dark with a metallic sheen, lacking the stark black-and-white contrast.