A noisy and distinctive large bird, with a long down-curved bill. Size 76 cm, somewhat larger than a guineafowl.  Afrikaans: Hadeda

Hadedas are greyish- or grey-brown birds with blackish wing- and tail feathers. In certain light, an attractive metallic purple or greenish sheen is visible on the wing coverts. The bill is blackish, with a red line on the top of the upper bill. The legs and feet are grey, with a line of red scales running down the front of the legs and the tops of the toes.

Hadedas are very well known in the urban areas, due mainly to their very loud, raucous calls which are usually given on take off or in flight. They are common and familiar birds of gardens, sports fields and parks in the urban areas, and are also found in woodland, forest and grasslands. They usually occur in pairs or small groups, but in the non-breeding season often gather in larger numbers to feed, or at roost sites, where it can be very noisy.

The call is a loud, raucous Hah - hah - hah de dah, uttered from a perch, or while in flight.

Hadedas feed on insects, worms, spiders crustaceans,small reptiles and snails. Prey is located by probing the sensitive bill into soft ground.

The Hadeda nests mainly in late winter and early summer. The nest is a flimsy platform of sticks, lined with grass and lichens. It is usually situated on the horizontal branch of a large tree. Unlike the other ibis species, Hadedas nest solitarily.