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Photo by DOC

Ciconia nigra

[edit] Identification

Length 95-110 cm, mass 2.2-3.2 kg.
Head, neck, upper breast and upperparts black; lower breast and belly white. The bill, bare skin around the eye, legs and feet are red.

[edit] Distribution

Photo by john-henry
Southern Spain, November 2008

Breeds from Western Europe to north-eastern China and Japan; there is also an isolated population that breeds in southern Africa (eastern Zambia to South Africa).

Birds breeding in Eurasia winter in tropical Africa and northern India to eastern China.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

[edit] Habitat

Almost always found in close proximity to fresh water; marshy areas and meadows with mixed forest for breeding.

[edit] Behaviour

A solitary bird that feeds in shallow water or on short grass.

[edit] Breeding

They build a stick nest high in a tree.

[edit] Diet

Their diet consists mainly of frogs, toads and fish.

[edit] Vocalisation

[edit] References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6

• List of references

[edit] External Links