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Black Stork - BirdForum Opus

Revision as of 21:20, 28 November 2009 by Deliatodd-18346 (talk | contribs) (Reference added)
Photo by DOC
Ciconia nigra

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.

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

Monotypic[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

<flashmp3>Ciconia nigra (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
  2. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6

Recommended Citation

External Links

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