the northern bald ibis hermit waldrapp geronticus eremita migratory old world

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The northern bald ibis, hermit ibis, or Waldrapp Geronticus eremita is a migratory Old World ibis Royalty Free Stock Photo

The northern bald ibis, hermit ibis, or Waldrapp Geronticus eremita is a migratory Old World ibis

This glossy black ibis, which, unlike many members of the ibis family, is non-wading, has an unfeathered red face and head, and a long, curved red bill. It breeds colonially on coastal or mountain cliff ledges, where it typically lays two to three eggs in a stick nest, and feeds on lizards, insects, and other small animals.The northern bald ibis was once widespread across the Middle East, northern Africa, southern and central Europe, with a fossil record dating back at least 1.8 million years. It disappeared from Europe over 300 years ago, although reintroduction programmes in the region are underway. In 2019 there were about 700 wild birds remaining in southern Morocco, and fewer than 10 in Syria, where it was rediscovered in 2002 but where their number declined in the following years, maybe to zero.