The species usually breeds once per year in the wet season.
Breeding season is from March to August in Africa, from April to May in Iraq.
It builds a stick nest, often in a baobab tree.
The bird nests in tree colonies, often with other large wading birds such as storks, herons, African spoonbills, African darters, cormorants.
It may also form single-species groups on offshore islands or abandoned buildings.
Large colonies consist of numerous subcolonies and can number 1000 birds.

Females lay 1-5 eggs per season, incubated by both parents for 21–29 days.
After hatching, one parent continuously stays at the nest for the first 7-days.
Chicks fledge after 35–40 days and are independent after 44–48 days, reaching sexual maturity 1–5 years after hatching.
The species usually breeds once per year in the wet season. Breeding season is from March to August in Africa, from April to May in Iraq. It builds a stick nest, often in a baobab tree. The bird nests in tree colonies, often with other large wading birds such as storks, herons, African spoonbills, African darters, cormorants. It may also form single-species groups on offshore islands or abandoned buildings. Large colonies consist of numerous subcolonies and can number 1000 birds.
Females lay 1-5 eggs per season, incubated by both parents for 21–29 days. After hatching, one parent continuously stays at the nest for the first 7-days. Chicks fledge after 35–40 days and are independent after 44–48 days, reaching sexual maturity 1–5 years after hatching.
African sacred ibis