The marabou stork ( Leptoptilos crumenifer ) is a large wading bird belonging to the stork family (Ciconiidae), native to sub-Saharan Africa. This unmistakable bird is a frequent scavenger and is easily identified by its size, bare head and neck, and other unique characteristics. The marabou stork plays a crucial role in its ecosystem, acting as a natural sanitation crew by feeding on carrion and other waste.
Physical Characteristics
The marabou stork is a massive bird; large specimens are thought to reach a height of 152 centimetres (5 feet) and a weight of 9 kg (20 lb). Males can be identified by their large air sacs and are generally slightly larger and taller than females.
A wingspan of 3.7 m (12 ft) was accepted by Fisher and Peterson, who ranked the species as having the largest wing-spread of any living bird. Even higher measurements of up to 4.06 m (13.3 ft) have been reported, although no measurement over 3.20 m (10.5 ft) has been verified. It is often credited with the largest spread of any landbird, to rival the Andean condor; more typically, however, these storks measure 225-287 cm (7-9 ft) across the wings, which is about a foot less than the average Andean condor wingspan and nearly two feet less than the average of the largest albatrosses and pelicans. Typical weight is 4.5-8 kg (10-17.5 lb), unusually as low as 4 kg (9 lb), and length (from bill to tail) is 120 to 130 cm (47 to 51 in).
Key features include a huge bill, a pink gular sac at its throat (crumenifer(us) means "carrier of a pouch for money"), a neck ruff, and white legs and black wings. Juvenile birds have similar colouration but are duller. Immature birds have a woolly covering on their heads and do not gain the black in their plumage until about three-years-old. By four-years the full plumage will have grown in. Its soft, white tail feathers are known as marabou.
Several adaptations aid the marabou stork in flight. In addition to hollow leg bones, marabou storks have hollow toe bones. In such a large bird, this is an important adaptation for flight. The African Marabou storks reach a wing span of 2,6 metres and a height of 1,5 metres.
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Habitat and Distribution
The marabou stork is found throughout Africa between the Sahara Desert and South Africa. It breeds in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially landfill sites. The habitat of the Marabou stork includes aquatic, arid areas of Africa. The marabou stork lives in open dry savannas, grasslands, riverbanks, lakeshores, and swamps. It is also frequently found near landfills or fishing villages.
Feeding Habits
The marabou stork is primarily a scavenger, with its diet mainly consisting of carrion and scraps. The naked head and long neck are adaptations to this livelihood, as it is with the vultures with which the stork often feeds. This large and powerful bird eats mainly carrion, scraps, and faeces but will opportunistically eat almost any animal matter it can swallow. They also feed on carcasses with vultures and hyenas. The Marabou stork reduces the spread of disease by cleaning up animal carcasses.
They are scavengers, they eat anything from termites, flamingoes and small birds and mammals to human refuse and dead elephants. Marabous will also forage by wading in shallow water using their sensitive bills. When prey touches the bill it snaps shut and the bird swallows its catch.
While carrion forms the bulk of their diet, marabou storks are opportunistic feeders. They have been known to consume:
- Termites
- Flamingos
- Small birds and mammals
- Human refuse
- Dead elephants
- Locusts
- Fish
- Frogs
- Insects
Marabous eating human garbage have been seen to devour virtually anything that they can swallow, including shoes and pieces of metal. Looting fishermen's boats on Lake Victoria for fish scraps at Ggaba in Uganda.
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During the breeding season, adults scale back on carrion and take mostly small, live prey since nestlings need this kind of food to survive.
Behaviour
Marabou storks are social birds and often gather in groups near lakes or rivers. Like many birds the Marabou Stork also pants when it becomes hot, again to lower its body temperature. They fly in a majestic way and live mostly solitary or in small groups. Like the Turkey Vulture, the Marabou Stork defecates upon its legs and feet. Quite simply, it helps assist in regulating body temperature, and also gives the false appearance that the birds have lovely white legs.
Marabou storks are attracted to grass fires. They march in front of the advancing fire grabbing animals that are fleeing.
They are not good short-distance flyers. Like other storks they fly with their especially long legs trailing behind, but unlike their cousins they keep their neck tucked well in and bent into a flattened S; this allows the weight of the heavy beak to be taken on the shoulders.
While usually silent, the Marabou Stork will also emit a sound caused by beak clacking if it feels threatened.
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Breeding and Life Cycle
Marabous breed on the treetops, where they build large nests. Like White stork (Ciconia ciconia) they like to be near human settlements. The Marabou stork breeds in Africa south of the Sahara. The marabou stork breeds in colonies, starting during the dry season. They are colonial breeders, their nests are a large, flat platform made of sticks with a shallow central cup lined with smaller sticks and green leaves. Marabous build a small nest in a tree made of sticks and line it with twigs and green leaves. Usually 2-3 eggs are laid during the dry season. The female lays two to three eggs in a small nest made of sticks; eggs hatch after an incubation period of 30 days. Both sexes incubate; eggs hatch in 30 days. Their young are helpless at birth. Both sexes tend and feed the young. The naked 18-inch inflatable pink sac is particularly conspicuous during the breeding season. It connects directly to the left nostril and acts as a resonator allowing the bird to produce a guttural croaking. Males attract a female with bill-rattling courtship displays and their throat sac is also used to make various noises at that time. Fledging period is 3-4 months. At hatching, the chicks are fed by both parents and fledge between 13 and 15 weeks of age. They remain with their parents for about another 4 months and reach reproductive maturity at 4 years of age. A marabou stork and Griffon vultures (G.
Marabou storks are monogamous and form strong pair bonds that last for life. Their young reach sexual maturity at 4 years of age. This stork may live up to 25 years.
Conservation Status and Population
According to the Environmental Information Service Namibia research, the total population size of the Marabou stork is around 100,000-300,000 individuals. According to the Oiseaux-birds resource, the total population size of this species was 200,000/500,000 individuals in 2006.
Relationship with Humans
The marabou stork's tendency to scavenge near human settlements, particularly landfills, has led to a complex relationship with people. While they provide a valuable service by cleaning up waste and reducing the spread of disease, their presence in large numbers can also be seen as a nuisance.