9-6-2023 MANDAI BIRD PARADISE, SINGAPORE - MARABOU STORK (Leptoptilos crumenifer)

The marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae native to sub-Saharan Africa. It breeds in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially landfill sites. It is sometimes called the "undertaker bird" due to its shape from behind: cloak-like wings and back, skinny white legs, and sometimes a large white mass of "hair". 

5-6-2019 MOREMI CAMP, BOTSWANA - MARABOU STORK (Leptoptilos crumenifer)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/201031-Leptoptilos-crumenifer

23-10-2019 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - MARABOU STORK (Leptoptilos crumenifer)

1-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - MARABOU STORK (Leptoptilos crumenifer)

5-6-2019 MOREMI CAMP, BOTSWANA - MARABOU STORK (Leptoptilos crumenifer)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/201031-Leptoptilos-crumenifer

16-1-2019 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - MARABOU STORK (Leptoptilos crumenifer)

11-4-2018 VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE - MARABOU STORK (Leptoptilos crumenifer) COURTESY OF MRS VALERIE FISHER

25-3-2018 TABLE MOUNTAIN AVIARY, CAPE TOWN - MARABOU STORK (Leptoptilos crumenifer)

11-4-2018 VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE - MARABOU STORK (Leptoptilos crumenifer)

13-9-2017 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - MARABOU STORK (Leptoptilos crumenifer)

14-10-2015 VALENCIA BIOPARC - MARABOU STORK (Leptoptilos crumenifer)

The Marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) is a large wading bird that breeds in Africa often near human habitation, especially landfill sites. It is sometimes called the "undertaker bird" due to its shape from behind: cloak-like wings and back, skinny white legs, and sometimes a large white mass of "hair".

The Marabou stork is a massive bird. This bird is unmistakable due to its size, bare head, and neck, huge bill, pink gular sac at its throat (crumenifer(us) - means "carrier of a pouch for money"), and neck ruff. The male and the female are alike, but the young bird is browner and has a smaller bill.

Marabou storks breed in Africa south of the Sahara. They live in both wet and arid habitats and can be found in open dry savannas, grasslands, riverbanks, lakeshores, and swamps. These birds are also frequent visitors to landfills and fishing villages.

Marabou storks are social birds and often gather in groups near lakes or rivers. They are generally silent but may sometimes make grunts, croak with their throat sac, or rattle their bills. These large and powerful birds eat mainly carrion, scraps, and feces but will opportunistically eat almost any animal matter they can swallow. Marabou storks feed by day soaring high over the open country looking for food or frequently following vultures which lead them to carrion. When feeding on carrion, marabous may wait for the vultures to cast aside a piece, steal a piece of meat directly from the vulture or wait until the vultures are done. 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. Increasingly, marabous have become dependent on human garbage and hundreds of these huge birds are seen around African dumps or waiting for a handout in urban areas. Marabous eating human garbage have been seen to devour virtually anything that they can swallow, including even shoes and pieces of metal.

26-11-2015 JURONG, SINGAPORE - MARABOU STORK (Leptoptilos crumenifer)

The marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae native to sub-Saharan Africa. It breeds in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially landfill sites. It is sometimes called the "undertaker bird" due to its shape from behind: cloak-like wings and back, skinny white legs, and sometimes a large white mass of "hair".

The marabou stork is a massive bird: large specimens are thought to reach a height of 152 centimetres (4.99 feet) and a weight of 9 kg (20 lb).[7][8] 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.[citation needed] 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 (9.9–17.6 lb), unusually as low as 4 kg (8.8 lb), and length (from bill to tail) is 120 to 130 cm (47 to 51 in). Females are smaller than males. Bill length can range from 26.4 to 35 cm (10.4 to 13.8 in). Unlike most storks, the three Leptoptilos species fly with the neck retracted like a heron.

The marabou is unmistakable due to its size, bare head and neck, black back, and white underparts. It has 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. The sexes are alike, but the young bird is browner and has a smaller bill. Full maturity is not reached for up to four years.

Like most storks, the marabou is gregarious and a colonial breeder. In the African dry season (when food is more readily available as the pools shrink), it builds a tree nest in which two or three eggs are laid. It is known to be quite ill-tempered.

It also resembles other storks in that it is not very vocal, but indulges in bill-rattling courtship displays. The throat sac is also used to make various noises at that time.

The marabou stork breeds in Africa south of the Sahara. In East Africa, the birds interact with humans and breed in urban areas. In southern African countries, the birds breed mainly in less populated areas. The marabou stork breeds in colonies, starting 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. Their young reach sexual maturity at 4 years of age. Lifespan is 43 years in captivity and 25 years in wild.

27-12-2015 SAIGON, VIETNAM - MARABOU STORK (Leptoptilos crumenifer)

The Marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) is a large wading bird that breeds in Africa often near human habitation, especially landfill sites. It is sometimes called the "undertaker bird" due to its shape from behind: cloak-like wings and back, skinny white legs, and sometimes a large white mass of "hair".

Marabou storks are scavengers and feed mainly on carrion. However, they occasionally eat other birds including pigeons, doves, pelican and cormorant chicks, and even flamingos. During the breeding season, adult marabous take mostly small, live prey since nestlings need this kind of food to survive. Common prey at this time may consist of fish, frogs, insects, eggs, small mammals, and reptiles such as crocodile hatchlings and eggs, and lizards and snakes.

The Marabou stork is a massive bird. This bird is unmistakable due to its size, bare head, and neck, huge bill, pink gular sac at its throat (crumenifer(us) - means "carrier of a pouch for money"), and neck ruff. The male and the female are alike, but the young bird is browner and has a smaller bill.

Marabou storks breed in Africa south of the Sahara. They live in both wet and arid habitats and can be found in open dry savannas, grasslands, riverbanks, lakeshores, and swamps. These birds are also frequent visitors to landfills and fishing villages.

Marabou storks are monogamous and form strong pair bonds that last for life. They breed in colonies, starting during the dry season when food is more readily available as the pools shrink. Males attract a female with bill-rattling courtship displays and their throat sac is also used to make various noises at that time. Marabous build a small nest in a tree made of sticks and line it with twigs and green leaves. The female lays 2-3 eggs which hatch after an incubation period of 30 days. 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.

Marabou storks are social birds and often gather in groups near lakes or rivers. They are generally silent but may sometimes make grunts, croak with their throat sac, or rattle their bills. These large and powerful birds eat mainly carrion, scraps, and feces but will opportunistically eat almost any animal matter they can swallow. Marabou storks feed by day soaring high over the open country looking for food or frequently following vultures which lead them to carrion. When feeding on carrion, marabous may wait for the vultures to cast aside a piece, steal a piece of meat directly from the vulture or wait until the vultures are done.

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. Increasingly, marabous have become dependent on human garbage and hundreds of these huge birds are seen around African dumps or waiting for a handout in urban areas. Marabous eating human garbage have been seen to devour virtually anything that they can swallow, including even shoes and pieces of metal.

1984 MASAI MARA, KENYA - MARABOU STORK (Leptoptilos crumenifer)