Alternative name: White-bellied Stork
- Ciconia abdimii
Identification
The Abdim's Stork, (Ciconia abdimii) is a black stork with grey legs, red knees and feet; it has a grey bill and white underparts. In front of eye there is red facial skin and blue skin near the bill in breeding season. It is the smallest species of stork at 73 cm (29 in) and a weight of just over 1 kg (2.2 lbs). The female lays two to three eggs and is slightly smaller than male.
The Abdim's Stork is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The smallest stork, the name commemorates the Turkish Governor of Wadi Halfa in Sudan Bey El-Arnaut Abdim (1780-1827).
Distribution
The Abdim's Stork is distributed to open habitats throughout East Africa, from Ethiopia south to South Africa.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Canopy of highland forest.
Behaviour
2-3 eggs are laid.
The diet consists mainly of locusts, caterpillars and other large insects.
