Bostrychia rara
The Spot-breasted Ibis (Bostrychia rara) is a medium-sized, highly secretive wading bird, distinguished by its dark, glossy plumage and elusive nature, earning it the scientific epithet 'rara' (rare). Measuring approximately 45-55 cm in length with a wingspan of 85-95 cm and weighing 600-800 grams, it boasts a predominantly blackish-green body with a metallic sheen, a pale yellow-orange throat patch, and a rusty-brown band across its breast, giving it its common name. Its bill is dark, long, ...
Dense tropical rainforests, swamp forests, and secondary growth are primary habitats, often found near streams or rivers, typically at low to moderate elevations.
Its diet primarily consists of insects, including beetles and their larvae, earthworms, mollusks, and occasionally small vertebrates like frogs and lizards, all unearthed by probing moist soil and leaf litter.
The Spot-breasted Ibis is predominantly diurnal, though it can exhibit crepuscular activity, especially when foraging or giving its characteristic calls at dawn and dusk. It typically forages alone or in small family groups, meticulously probing the moist forest floor, turning over leaves and deb...
The Spot-breasted Ibis is a resident species found exclusively in the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa. Its breeding and year-round range extends from Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin in West Africa, eastward through Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea,...
Least Concern
- The scientific name 'rara' (meaning rare) aptly describes how infrequently this elusive ibis is seen, not necessarily its global population size. - It is more often heard than seen, with its distinctive booming calls echoing through the forest, especially at dawn and dusk. - Unlike most ibis sp...