Abdim's Stork

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Ciconia abdimii

CLASSIFICATION

Class:	Aves
Order:	Ciconiiformes
Family:	Ciconiidae
Genus:	Ciconia
Species:	abdimii

Has also been called the White Bellied Stork

SIZE

Length:	Male:	2 1/2-3 feet
	Female:	2 1/2-3 feet
Weight:	Male:	males slightly larger
	Female:	2-3 pounds
Wingspan:	Male:	2-3 feet
	Female:	2-3 feet

APPEARANCE:

The Abdim's or White-bellied Stork is the smallest species in the stork family. Like all storks, it has a long neck and long legs with a fairly large and broad wingspan for its size. The feathers on most of its body are a dark brown/black with a pink/purple irridescent hue. The feathers on the belly and under the tail are white. The wings of all storks are excellently suited to soaring. The tail is short and the legs stick out behind it in flight. The bill is large and pointed for its head size.

RANGE/DISTRIBUTION:

Africa, south of the Sahara and SW Arabia, breeds north of the equator, with most birds spending the rest of the year in eastern and southern parts of Africa.

HABITAT/TERRITORY SIZE:

Open grassland, areas of cultivation; often near water, but also in very dry zones.
Zoo: mice

MIGRATION:

They migrate north from about November to March, passing through east Africa during the heaviest rains, and they end up in north Africa in April or May when the rains come there. The arrival of the storks with the rains has led to native folklore giving it the title of "rain-bringer," in an area where the people depend on the rains for the success of their crops. Superstition demands that the bird be free from any type of disturbance.

DIET:

They eat almost exclusively large insects, especially swarming locusts and caterpillars of the Army worm; also grasshoppers, crickets and infrequently mice and small aquatic animals.

HUNTING METHOD:

Abdim Storks usually congregate in large flocks at swarms of grasshoppers, each bird gorging itself rapidly. Otherwise, they walk along looking for prey, which is located, then quickly snatched up. After capturing and consuming prey, the stork frequently drinks water.

BREEDING INFORMATION:

Abdim's Storks are colonial breeders, often nesting communally in trees or cliffs. The colonies can range from a few pairs to several thousand, and are often found with other species of storks. These storks also nest in the roofs of native huts, which is often encouraged by the inhabitants since it is believed they bring good luck. They usually lay a clutch of 2-3 eggs, but sometimes only 1. The chicks fledge at around 50-60 days.

BEHAVIOR:

The Abdim Stork is one of the most gregarious types of storks and is one of the few storks that are considered, to some extent, specialist feeders. They often travel in large flocks up to 10,000 birds, landing daily to feed except perhaps when flying over forests. In many parts of Africa, they are known as "grasshopper birds," because of they're consumption of large numbers of locusts. Like other stork species, Abdim Storks defecate on their legs in order to maintain their body temperature through the process of evaporative cooling.

STATUS:

Abdim Storks are fairly common throughout their territory.

FOLKLORE AND MYTHS:

Abdim Storks are thought to bring good luck.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Original resources unknown.
'Animals—Explore, Discover, Connect," Sea World Parks.