Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae)

Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita) - HBW 1, p. 495

French: Ibis chauve German: Waldrapp Spanish: Ibis Eremita
Other common names: Waldrapp/Hermit/Bald Ibis, Waldrapp

Taxonomy: Upupa Eremita Linnaeus, 1758, Switzerland.
Forms superspecies with G. calvus. Monotypic.

Distribution: Morocco and Algeria, S to W Sahara; apparently now breeds only in Morocco. Distribution of eastern population uncertain: until recently bred in SE Turkey, wintering in Arabia, Ethiopia and N Somalia, but extinct since 1989; recent records in SW Arabia and Yemen suggest existence of unknown colonies. Formerly more widespread in Near and Middle East; also in Alps, S Europe and Egypt.