Bostrychia olivacea
The Olive Ibis (Bostrychia olivacea) is a medium-sized, elusive wading bird characterized by its dusky brown plumage with a distinctive olive-green sheen, particularly on its back and wings. Measuring 60–65 cm (24–26 in) in length and weighing around 1.3-1.8 kg, it features a shaggy crest of dark brown feathers and a dark, decurved bill. Its dark facial skin and dull olive-brown legs are key field marks. Taxonomically, it belongs to the family Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills), with s...
Found primarily in dense primary and secondary tropical rainforests, gallery forests, and swampy woodlands, often near streams or rivers, from sea level up to 3,700 meters in montane areas.
Primarily carnivorous, feeding on a variety of invertebrates such as beetles, earthworms, and insect larvae, as well as small reptiles, amphibians, and mollusks, obtained by probing forest floor litter and soft soil.
Olive Ibises are typically solitary or found in pairs, occasionally forming small family groups. They are largely crepuscular or nocturnal foragers, but can also be active during the day, probing soft ground, leaf litter, and shallow water for prey using their long, decurved bills. They roost com...
The Olive Ibis has a fragmented distribution across the African tropical rainforest belt, with populations primarily resident in various regions. The nominate subspecies (*B. o. olivacea*) is found from Sierra Leone eastward to Ghana and Liberia. Another mainland subspecies, *B. o. cupreipennis*,...
Least Concern
- The Olive Ibis complex includes several forms often considered separate species, such as the Critically Endangered São Tomé Ibis (*Bostrychia bocagei*) and Principe Ibis (*Bostrychia rothschildi*), both endemic to small African islands. - Unlike most ibises that prefer open wetlands, the Olive ...