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GrasslandPlatform nestHuge · 6.1 kg
ID tip
The marabou stork is a massive bird: large specimens are thought to reach a height of 152 centimetres (5 feet) and a weight of 9 kg (20 lb). A wingspan of 3.7 m (12 ft) was accepted by Fisher and Peterson, who ranked the species as having the largest wing-spread of any living bird. Even higher measurements of up to 4.06 m (13.3 ft) have been reported, although no measurement over 3.20 m (10.5 ft) has been verified.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Marabou Stork
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Marabou Stork
The map shades 30 countries with regular records, and 9 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Spain, Djibouti, Mali, India, Portugal, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Germany.
About the Marabou Stork
The marabou stork is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae native to sub-Saharan Africa. It breeds in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially landfill sites. It is sometimes called the "undertaker bird" due to its shape from behind: cloak-like wings and back, skinny white legs, and sometimes a large white mass of "hair". It has often been credited with the largest wingspan of any land bird, with an average of 2.6 metres (8.5 ft) and some recorded examples of up to 3.2 metres (10 ft).
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Lesser AdjutantLeptoptilos javanicusA large stork with an upright stance, a bare head and neck without a pendant pouch, it has a length of 87–93 cm (34–37 in) (outstretched from bill-to-tail measurement), weighs from 4 to 5.71 kg (8.8 to 12.6 lb) and stands about 110–120 cm (43–47 in) tall.
Greater AdjutantLeptoptilos dubiusThe greater adjutant is a huge bird, standing tall at 145–150 cm (4 ft 9 in – 4 ft 11 in).
Side by side: Jabiru vs Marabou Stork · Lesser Adjutant vs Marabou Stork · Greater Adjutant vs Marabou Stork
Watch the Marabou Stork on live cams
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