Abdim's Stork

Ciconia abdimii

Least ConcernRareInvertebratesGrasslandPlatform nestLarge · 1.4 kg

About the Abdim's Stork

Abdim's stork, also known as the white-bellied stork, is a stork belonging to the family Ciconiidae. It is the smallest species of stork, feeds mostly on insects, and is found widely in open habitats in Sub-Saharan Africa and in Yemen. The common name commemorates the Ottoman Albanian Governor of Wadi Halfa in Sudan, Bey El-Arnaut Abdim (1780–1827).

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

Ciconia abdimii is a black stork with grey legs, red knees and feet, grey bill and white underparts. It has red facial skin in front of the eye 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 lb).

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in Germany, Senegal, Finland.

When to see it

Peak activity in February · a winter visitor species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Learn the Abdim's Stork for real

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