Black Stork
Ciconia nigra
The Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) is a common stork found in 109 countries, weighing about 2.9 kg. The black stork is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae.
About the Black Stork
The black stork is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae. Measuring on average 95 to 100 cm from beak tip to end of tail with a 145-to-155 cm (57-to-61 in) wingspan, the adult black stork has mainly black plumage, with white underparts, long red legs and a long pointed red beak. A widespread but uncommon species, it breeds in scattered locations across Europe, and east across the Palearctic to the Pacific Ocean. It is a long-distance migrant, with European populations wintering in tropical Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asian populations in the Indian subcontinent. When migrating between Europe and Africa, it…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The black stork is a large bird, measuring between 95 and 100 cm (37 and 39 in) in length with a 145-to-155 cm (57-to-61 in) wingspan, and weighing around 3 kg (6.6 lb). Standing as tall as 102 cm (40 in), it has long red legs, a long neck and a long, straight, pointed red beak. It bears some resemblance to Abdim's stork (C. abdimii), which can be distinguished by its much smaller build, predominantly green bill, legs and feet, and white rump and lower back. The plumage is black with a purplish green sheen, except for the white lower breast, belly, armpits, axillaries and undertail coverts.
What the Black Stork sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Finland, Burkina Faso, Mali, Laos, Yemen, Andorra.
When to see it
The Black Stork can be seen all year round, with peak activity in September. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Watch the Black Stork on live cams
- Black Stork Nest, Riga ForestsRiga, Latvia · Streaming now
- Black Stork Nest, EstoniaEstonia · Streaming now
- Black Stork Nest, BolewiceBolewice, Poland · Streaming now
Browse all 118 bird cams worldwide, live and seasonal, by region and species.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black Stork?
- The black stork is a large bird, measuring between 95 and 100 cm (37 and 39 in) in length with a 145-to-155 cm (57-to-61 in) wingspan, and weighing around 3 kg (6.6 lb). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black Stork?
- The Black Stork is a huge sized bird weighing about 2.9 kg.
- Where can you see a Black Stork?
- The Black Stork occurs in 109 countries, including France, Spain, Israel, Türkiye and India.
- What does a Black Stork sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Black Stork on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Black Stork?
- The Black Stork is most easily confused with the Asian Woolly-necked Stork, the Maguari Stork and the African Woolly-necked Stork.
- Is the Black Stork endangered?
- The Black Stork is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Black Stork for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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