7. Sacred Ibis The Sacred Ibis is larger and much quieter than its cousin, the Hadada, and also widely distributed over sub-Saharan Africa. With black head, neck, and legs, it is a distinctive and unmistakable bird. What is sacred about it? Well, it has a noble posture and a pleasing silhouette. And like another bird we shall mention, it was venerated by the ancient Egyptians. The Egyptian god Thoth, the deity of wisdom and (interestingly) writing, was depicted in paintings, and in the Book of the Dead, as having the head and beak of an ibis. Did that black head and neck remind them of a pen dipped in ink and poised to write? They were seen as clever, patient and peaceful animals, and emblematic of balance justice and integrity (few would be tempted to say the same of the Hadada). Egyptians mummified them and buried them in tombs along with the dead, prompting speculation that the special relationship they had with Egyptians led to them being kept as pets and allowed to wander over the fields. According to the distribution map, they are no longer to be found in Egypt, which seems strange. Perhaps they are still there as pets. Birds of AFRICAMA House 18 Birds of AFRICAMA House 19