White stork

The white stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a large bird in the stork family, Ciconiidae. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on the wings. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks. They are on average 100–115 cm (39–45 in) from beak tip to end of tail, with a 155–215 cm (61–85 in) wingspan.

White stork
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Order:	Ciconiiformes
Family:	Ciconiidae
Genus:	Ciconia
Species:	C. ciconia
Binomial name
Ciconia ciconia (Linnaeus, 1758)
Approximate ranges and routes        Breeding range        Winter range   Migration routes
Synonyms
Ardea ciconia Linnaeus, 1758

The stork breeds in Europe, northwestern Africa, and Asia (east to southern Kazakhstan) and southern Africa.

The white stork is a long-distance migrant. It winters in Sub-Saharan Africa to South Africa, or on the Indian subcontinent. When migrating between Europe and Africa, it avoids crossing the Mediterranean Sea and detours via the Levant in the east or the Strait of Gibraltar in the wes. The air thermals on which it depends for soaring do not form over water.

A carnivore, the white stork eats a wide range of animal prey, including insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals and small birds. It takes most of its food from the ground, among low vegetation, and from shallow water.

Mating

Though monogamous, the birds do not pair for life. Pairs build a large stick nest, which may be used for several years. Each year the female may lay a clutch of four eggs, which hatch roughly 33–34 days after being laid. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs, and both feed the young. The young leave the nest 58–64 days after hatching, and are fed by the parents for another 7–20 days.

White Stork Media

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  Ciconia ciconia

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  In flight. White storks fly with their necks outstretched.

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  An older juvenile at Vogelpark Avifauna, Netherlands. Beaks turn red starting at the base.

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  A flock foraging in Turkey. White storks avoid areas overgrown with tall grass and shrubs.

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  In 1822, the Rostocker Pfeilstorch provided early evidence of long-distance stork migration.

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  A flock in migration over Israel. Migrating white storks use the uplift of air thermals to reduce the effort of long-distance flying.

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  Eastern route: storks resting in Rahat (spring 2017)

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  Otto Lilienthal studied the flight of storks in 1889 while designing his glider. Sketches by his brother Gustav Lilienthal.

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  An adult in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya. The lower parts of its legs are a whitish colour due to being covered with its droppings—an example of thermoregulation by urohidrosis.