Marabou Stork ( Leptoptilus crumeniferus )
Marabou Stork - Marabou Stork information - Marabou Stork facts
The Marabou stork is spread in Africa south of Sahara desert. It can be found in following areas: Senegal, north-eastern Sudan, Ethiopia, western part of Rep. Congo and Gabon, southern Angola and northern Namibia. It inhabits grasslands close to the water area.
Leptoptilos crumeniferus is 150 cm in size (59 inches). It has got quite large body. Its head and wattle are pinkish and furless. The prominent wattle hangs over the chest. There is a whitish plumage behind the head going down the chest and belly. The bill is brownish and looks rather dirty. The back and the wings are grayish-black. Legs are very long grayish. Sexes look alike, however the males are generally bigger.
The stork’s diet is very rich. It ranges from aquatic animals (such as frogs, fish, snakes etc…) to grass and plankton. These kind of storks are also scavengers, so they also feed on carrion found killed on the road. They generally live in colonies. They also breed in colonies. Their nest is made of grass and sticks and situated in trees. The hens have from one to four eggs that are white coloured. The breeding is not very regular, however marabous have a very long life expectancy – several decades.
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