Stork
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What is a stork?
A stork is any of about 20 species of long-necked, large birds in the family Ciconiidae. Storks are related to herons, flamingos, and ibises. They can be anywhere from two to five feet tall. Storks are mainly found in Africa, Asia, and Europe, but the black-necked stork also lives in Australia, and three species live between Florida and Argentina.
Storks don't have a fully developed vocal organ, so they are mostly voiceless. However, some clatter their bills loudly when excited. When they fly, they stretch their necks and trail their legs, alternating between flapping and soaring.
Most storks live in flocks, except when they pair off during breeding season. They eat small animals in shallow water and fields during the day. Some, such as the marabou stork, eat mostly carrion.
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To which bird family do storks belong?
Storks belong to the bird family Ciconiidae, which includes about 20 species of long-necked, large birds. They are related to herons, flamingos, and ibises. Storks are medium to large wading or walking birds, stoutly built, with long necks. They have long, massive bills that are either straight or curved. These birds are typically found in Africa, Asia, and Europe, with one species, the black-necked stork, also inhabiting Australia, and three New World species residing between Florida and Argentina.
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Where can storks be found in the world?
Storks are long-necked birds that belong to the family Ciconiidae. They are mainly found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The black-necked stork can also be found in Australia, and three New World species live between Florida and Argentina.
The white stork breeds across Europe and Asia and winters south to South Africa. The black stork lives in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Many storks that nest in northern and eastern Europe migrate to Africa south of the Sahara. Abdim’s stork breeds in the northern tropics of Africa during the rainy season and migrates across the Equator.
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What do storks eat?
Storks, belonging to the family Ciconiidae, are mostly carnivorous birds that eat small animals found in shallow water and fields. Their diet is varied, consisting of fish, small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans, insects, and worms. Some storks, such as the marabou and adjutant storks, are primarily carrion eaters, feeding on carcasses.
Some stork species have unique feeding habits. For example, the open-billed storks consume water snails, while the wood storks fish by plowing through the water with their mandibles open. White storks in Africa consume large quantities of locusts, and the cattle egret eats insects disturbed by large mammals.
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How do storks build their nests?
Storks, part of the ciconiiform family, are known for building nests that vary depending on the species. Most storks nest in tall trees, but some will use cliffs or buildings. In Europe, white storks often use artificial platforms like cartwheels on poles.
The nests are usually loose platforms made of sticks and stems, with rushes added in marshy areas. These nests are often part of large colonies that may include multiple species. Both parents participate in building the nest, which is essential for breeding and raising their young.
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Why are storks important or famous in different cultures?
Storks, members of the Ciconiidae family, are large wading birds with long, stout bills, mainly found in Asia, Africa, and South America. While some consider herons undesirable, storks are generally seen as beneficial or neutral to the economy and are often protected. The white stork, now an endangered species, is known for nesting on buildings, showing its close association with humans. Other species, like Abdim’s stork, nest on native huts in treeless areas, and many heron and stork colonies in Africa are located near villages.
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Stork, (family Ciconiidae), any of about 20 species of long-necked large birds constituting the family Ciconiidae (order Ciconiiformes), related to the herons, flamingos, and ibises. Storks range from about 60 cm to more than 150 cm (2 to 5 feet) in height. All or part of the head and upper neck may be bare of feathers and brightly coloured. Storks are voiceless or nearly so, for lack of a fully developed syrinx (vocal organ), but some of them clatter their bills loudly when excited. They fly, alternately flapping and soaring, with neck outstretched and legs trailing. Storks occur mainly in Africa, Asia, and Europe. One species, the black-necked stork, also occurs in Australia. Three New World species occur between Florida and Argentina.
Most storks are found in flocks except during the breeding season, when they pair off. They feed during the day. Most eat small animals caught in shallow water and fields. Some, like the marabou stork of Africa and the adjutant stork of India, feed primarily on carrion. The nest, a large twig platform built by both sexes, is constructed in trees, on rock ledges, or, in the case of the white stork, on rooftops and chimneys, often in colonial groupings. Three to six chalky-white eggs are incubated by both parents and hatch in about five weeks.
Taxonomically, storks are separated as typical storks (subfamily Ciconiinae) and wood storks (Mycteriinae). Wood storks (one species of Mycteria and three species of Ibis), originally called wood ibises, have decurved bills, resembling ibises in that respect. In typical storks the bill is straight or nearly so.
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The adjutant stork (Leptoptilos dubius), or adjutant bird, of India and southeastern Asia, and the lesser adjutant (L. javanicus) are typical scavengers with naked pink skin on the head and neck.
The African wood stork (Ibis ibis), or yellow-billed stork, is about 100 cm (3 feet) tall, with a yellowish bill and red facial skin.
The black stork (Ciconia nigra) of Europe, Asia, and Africa is about 100 cm tall, black with a white spot on the belly and a red bill and red legs.
Two open-billed storks, openbills, or shell storks, Anastomus lamelligerus of tropical Africa and A. oscitans of southern Asia, are small storks that eat water snails. When the mandibles of these birds are closed, a wide gap remains except at the tips, probably an adaptation for holding snails.
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The saddle-billed stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis), or saddlebill, is a colourful stork of tropical Africa. More than 120 cm (4 feet) tall, its legs and neck are exceptionally long and thin. The slightly upturned bill is red, crossed by a broad black band surmounted in front of the eyes by a small yellow plate.
The white stork (Ciconia ciconia) breeds across Europe and Asia and winters south to South Africa. It is a stately bird about 100 cm tall, white with black flight feathers, a dark red bill, and reddish legs. Its population is decreasing, partly because of humans’ destruction of its habitat; one race, the Oriental white stork (C. ciconia boyciana), is considered endangered.
The wood stork of the New World (Mycteria americana), often wrongly called “jabiru,” ranges from the southern United States to Argentina. It is white with black wings and tail and a decurved bill. See also jabiru; marabou; hammerhead; shoebill.