Northern bald ibis
Geronticus eremita
A bird with a bald red head, scruffy feathers on its nape and a long red beak. It lives under protection in Birecik, and its survival is at risk.
| Size | 70–80 cm |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 125–135 cm |
| Weight | 1–1.5 kg |
| Diet | Insects, larvae, small reptiles |
| Eggs | 2–3 |
| Where to see it | Birecik (Şanlıurfa) breeding station and surroundings |
From far away it looks black, but up close its feathers shine green and purple. It has no feathers on its head at all. The red skin and the scruffy feathers on the nape gave it the name "bald".
It once lived from the Middle East all the way to Europe. Hunting, loss of habitat and farm chemicals made it one of the rarest birds in the world.
For centuries Birecik was where bald ibises returned every spring. Today they live under protection at the breeding station there, and work is going on to increase their numbers.
They are social birds. They nest in colonies on cliffs and raise their chicks together.
To draw it in DrawBird
Use the long wings from the gull lesson, but make the bird dark, metallic green-black. Draw the head red and bare, and the beak long, red and curved down. Add a few scruffy feathers on the nape.
Drawing lesson: How to draw a gull →
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