Marabou stork

The marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It breeds in Africa, south of the Sahara, in wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially waste tips.

Marabou stork
Marabou stork in the Mikumi National Park, Tanzania
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Ciconiiformes
Family:	Ciconiidae
Genus:	Leptoptilos
Species:	L. crumeniferus
Binomial name
Leptoptilos crumeniferus Lesson, 1831

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".

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  Marabou flying, Ethiopia

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  Head detail at Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

Marabou Stork Media

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  A marabou stork and Griffon vultures (G. fulvus) scavenging in the Masai Mara, Kenya

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  1920 cloak, hem trimmed with marabou feathers

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  Skeleton of a marabou stork

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  Skull cast from a Leptoptilos crumenifer displays its long beak

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  Spreading wings, Uganda

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  Marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus), Lake Ziway, Ethiopia