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Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Photo by TwoBoy
Photo taken: Kruger National Park.

[edit] Identification

150 cm high. The male is larger and heavier than the female. The head, neck, back, wings, and tail are iridescent black, with the rest of the body and the primary flight feathers being white. The massive bill is red with a black band and a yellow frontal shield (the “saddle�). The legs and feet are black with pink knees. Sexes are identically plumaged except that the female has a golden yellow iris, while the male's is brown. Juveniles are browner grey in plumage.

[edit] Distribution

Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, The Gambia, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Chad.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Habitat

Marshes and other wetlands.

[edit] Behaviour

It builds a large, deep stick nest in a tree, laying 1-2 white eggs which are incubated for 30-35 days; the chicks fledge 70 - 100 days later.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes fish, frogs and crabs, but also on young birds, and other land vertebrates.

[edit] External Links