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Black Stork - BirdForum Opus

Photo by DOC
Ciconia nigra

Identification

Length 95-110 cm (37½-4¼ in), 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.

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.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

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

Behaviour

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

Breeding

They build a stick nest high in a tree.

Diet

Their diet consists mainly of frogs, toads and fish.

Vocalisation

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6

Recommended Citation

External Links

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