Black Stork

Ciconia nigra

The Black Stork is a beautiful bird with shiny black feathers and a long, pointed beak. They love to live near water where they can catch fish and frogs to eat.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Black Stork is a large wading bird with iridescent black plumage that shines purple and green in sunlight, contrasting sharply with its pure white belly. It has striking bright red legs and a long, pointed red bill, making it visually distinct from its white stork cousin.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderCiconiiformesFamilyCiconiidaeGenusCiconia

Black Stork

Interesting facts

Black Storks stomp their feet in water to scare out fish and amphibians hiding in the mud!

Some Black Stork pairs reuse the exact same giant nest, high in a tree, for many years.

Their long, sharp red bill is perfect for snatching slippery prey like eels from shallow water.

They are very shy and prefer to nest far away from humans in tall, ancient forest trees.

Special abilities

Black Stork can soar for hours on warm air currents, saving energy for long migration flights.

Black Stork can quietly wade through shallow waters because its movements are slow and deliberate, surprising prey.

Black Stork can communicate with others by rapidly clattering its strong red bill instead of singing or chirping.

Measurements & details

Length: 90-105 cm
Wingspan: 145-155 cm
Weight: 2.3-3.2 kg
Lifespan: 18-20 years
Top Speed: 60 km/h
Clutch Size: 2-5
Incubation: 31-38 days
Migration Distance: 7000 km

Diet & Feeding

Black Storks hunt fish, frogs, and aquatic insects by stalking quietly in shallow freshwater.

Primary Foods

fish
frogs
newts
lizards
large aquatic insects
small snakes

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

Young pike are a common food source for storks.

eaten by

Common Frog

Rana temporaria

Adult frogs and tadpoles are frequently hunted.

shelters

Pedunculate Oak

Quercus robur

Black Storks build large nests high in old oak trees.

eaten by

White-tailed Eagle

Haliaeetus albicilla

Eggs and chicks are sometimes preyed upon by eagles.

Traits

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Piscivorous

Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.