Page 87 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

STORKS
Order Ciconiiformes Family Ciconiidae Species Ciconia ciconia
White Stork long red bill
(dark grey on
juvenile)

broad, fingered flat wings when
wings gliding
outstretched
head
white body,
often soiled
black rear
wings
ADULT
IN FLIGHT
trailing ADULT
legs
ADULT

long, stout FLIGHT: direct flight low, on long, flat, fingered
red legs; wings, neck outstretched; soars magnificently, often
majestic walk
in swirling flocks.
ne of Europe’s
O largest and most
boldly patterned birds,
the White Stork creates a
spectacular sight when it gathers in thousands on
migration to make the narrowest sea crossings
possible, at Gibraltar and Istanbul.Although still
widespread, it is declining in much of its range as
farming becomes ever more intense and wetlands
drier or more polluted. Reintroduction schemes
have helped in northwest Europe but leave the
origin of some western vagrants in some doubt.
VOICE Silent, but rattles bill loudly at nest.
NESTING Large, bulky nest of sticks on pole, tower,
or roof of tall house, or in tree; 2–4 eggs; 1 brood;
April–June. PERCHING AT NEST
FEEDING Catches various aquatic insects, small White Storks often build their nest on rooftops, the size of the nests
rodents, frogs and toads, and small fish in damp places rendering them visible at great range. The birds are typically seen
or shallow water. standing erect at their rooftop nests.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in mainland Europe other
than far north, and migrates to
Africa in winter. Feeds on open
land near marshes, rivers, and
grey (black and lakes, including edges of towns
white in strong and villages where it often nests
sun) neck on high perches.
withdrawn
GREY HERON in flight
bowed wings in WHITE PELICAN Seen in the UK
flight; see p.82 short legs; see p.406 JF M A M J JA S ON D
Length 0.95–1.1m (3–3 1 ⁄2ft) Wingspan 1.8–2.18m (6–7 1 ⁄4ft) Weight 2.5–4.5kg (5 1 ⁄2 –10lb)
Social Migrates in flocks Lifespan Up to 25 years Status Vulnerable
85