Marabou Stork

scientific name

Leptoptilos crumeniferus

size

Height. male 5' " female slightly smaller
Weight. male 15-20 lbs. " female slightly smaller
Wingspan. male 8.5'
largest stork

characteristics

Adaptations/Coloration. head pink-red & bare " feathers black " neck white ruff " lower body white " back mantle & upper wing slate gray with green gloss " tail & wings black with green gloss " bill mottled black with pink tint " eyes brown " air sacs red
Flight. not good short distance " soars to great height on thermals " neck tucked in (unlike other storks) " legs projected
Foreneck. lower part has distensible fleshy pouch
Immature. woolly covering on head
Plumage. blackness appears 3 yrs " adult by 4 yrs

behavior

Call. usually silent away from nest
Defense. bill-clacking if threatened
Flock. size varies
Forage. share carcasses with vultures " shake loose large chunks & eat whole " adult can swallow 2 lb. chunk
Movement. when not feeding - standing, squatting, pacing, or wings extend to catch sun & warn off intruders
Personality. gregarious " gather at river sandbanks to bathe & rest

reproduction/life span

Life span. 25+ yrs maximum established
Sexual Maturity. unknown
Courtship. by male " bill clacks, loud hollow sounds, wings spread, neck arches, & sways back & forth
Breed. large colony 100+ pairs " same site (tree & cliff) used annually
Incubation. 30 days " both parents
Eggs. 1-4 " laid 1-3 day intervals
Nest. male gathers sticks " female builds - takes 7-10 days " 3' wide " 33-100' above ground " intruder warning - grunts, squeaks, whistles
Young. left alone at 10 days " young rely on parents for food 130 days
Parenting. both parents " 1 remains nearby " food regurgitated by parent into nest

diet

Wild. amphibians, aquatic organisms, beetles, carrion, crustaceans, fish, flamingoes, termites, & young shore birds
Zoo. Bird of Prey Diet, chicks, fish, & mice

habitat/range

near water " fishing villages & garbage dumps " Equatorial Africa - rare south of Botswana or north of Senegal & Somalia

status

population probably increasing due to association with humans & garbage dump scavenging

oregon zoo exhibit

Africa Savanna