# 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. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Black Stork](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ciconia_nigra.jpg&width=800) Photo: J. Patrick Fischer, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ciconia_nigra.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Ciconiiformes - **Family:** Ciconiidae - **Genus:** Ciconia ## 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 - **Thermal Glider:** Black Stork can soar for hours on warm air currents, saving energy for long migration flights. - **Silent Stalker:** Black Stork can quietly wade through shallow waters because its movements are slow and deliberate, surprising prey. - **Bill Clatter:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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. - **Shelter:** Pedunculate Oak (*Quercus robur*) — Black Storks build large nests high in old oak trees. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-eagle) (*Haliaeetus albicilla*) — Eggs and chicks are sometimes preyed upon by eagles. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black Stork? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Black Stork? 90-105 cm ### What is Black Stork's wingspan? 145-155 cm ### How much does Black Stork weigh? 2.3-3.2 kg ### How long does Black Stork live? 18-20 years ### How fast can Black Stork move? 60 km/h ### What does Black Stork eat? Black Storks hunt fish, frogs, and aquatic insects by stalking quietly in shallow freshwater. ### Where is Black Stork usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Tierpark Hexentanzplatz Thale](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-hexentanzplatz-thale) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo - [Tierpark Kunsterspring](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-kunsterspring) — Brandenburg, DE · Zoo - [Tierpark Suhl](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-suhl) — Thüringen, DE · Zoo - [Biosphärenreservat Drömling](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/droemling-biosphere-reserve) — Niedersachsen; Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Park - [Eifel National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/eifel-national-park) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Park - [Monfragüe National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monfrague-national-park) — Mainland, ES · Park [View all places to see Black Stork](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/black-stork) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Black Stork: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-stork)