Black-necked Stork
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{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Black-necked Stork | status = Conservation status: Lower risk (nt) | image = Black-necked_Stork.jpg | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Aves | ordo = Ciconiiformes | familia = Ciconiidae | genus = Ephippiorhynchus | species = E. asiaticus | binomial = Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus | binomial_authority = (Latham, 1790) }}
The Black-necked Stork, Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It is a widespread species, which is a resident breeder in southern Asia and Australasia, from India east to New Guinea and the northern half of Australia. In Australia it is also known as a Jabiru but should not be confused with the similar bird of this name from the Americas, which belongs to a different genus.
This is a huge bird, typically 130-150 cm tall with a 230cm wingspan. It is spectacularly plumaged. The head, neck, wing bar and tail are jet black, with the rest of the plumage white. The massive bill is black and the legs are bright red. Sexes are identical except that the female has a yellow iris, while the male's is brown. Juveniles are mainly light brown with a white belly and dark legs.
Like most storks, these fly with the neck outstretched, not retracted like a heron.
The Black-necked Stork breeds in marshes and other wetlands in tropical lowland. It builds a stick nest in trees, laying 3-5 eggs. It often forms small colonies.
Like most of its relatives, this bird feeds mainly on fish, frogs and large insects, but also on young birds, lizards and rodents.
The only stork in Australia, this species is considered as endangered there. Black-necked Storks are extremely sensitive to environmental changes like water pollution, habitat destruction and human disruption around breeding sites.
Image:Jabiru Perth Zoo Sept 2005.jpg
References
- Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6