Marabou Stork
Image: craigscribbles (cc-by-nc)
NameMarabou Stork
Common NameMarabou Stork
Scientific NameLeptoptilos crumenifer
FamilyCiconiidae
Wingspan (cm)260
Length (cm)130
Weight (g)6500
Plumage DetailsAdults have dark grey upperparts, wings, and tail, contrasting sharply with white underparts and a white undertail. The head and neck are largely bare, pinkish, and often mottled, featuring a large, inflatable pink gular sac hanging from the throat.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent outside of breeding colonies. When vocalizing, they produce various guttural grunts, croaks, and hisses, particularly during courtship or when disturbed. Bill-clattering is also a common form of communication.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatssavanna, grassland, wetland, near human settlements, lakeshores, riverbanks
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeWidespread across sub-Saharan Africa, found from Senegal and Gambia in the west to Eritrea and Somalia in the east, and extending south to South Africa.
Identifying Featuresvery large size, bare pinkish head and neck, large pink gular sac, massive, wedge-shaped bill, dark grey back and wings, white belly
Description
A very large and distinctive stork, characterized by its bare head and neck, a prominent gular sac, and a massive bill. These birds are primarily scavengers, often seen in groups near carrion or human refuse, but they also actively hunt live prey.
