
Marabou Stork
Leptoptilos crumenifer (Lesson, RP, 1831)
6.1 kgWeight
The marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Busiest months: November · Most records: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
Where and when it's recorded
Busiest months: November · Most records: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
Marabou Stork has been recorded at 361 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 30 countries and regions.
Records by month Southern Hemisphere
Where it's recorded most
- Nairobi NPKenya1,903 records
- Lake Nakuru NPKenya1,511 records
- Entebbe Botanical GardenUganda1,458 records
More places
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Ngorongoro CraterTanzania858 records
- Amboseli NPKenya792 records
- Serengeti NPTanzania697 records
- Tarangire NPTanzania592 records
- Maasai Mara NRKenya551 records
- Maasai Mara NR – Mara TriangleKenya530 records
- Queen Elizabeth II NP – Kazinga Channel Boat TripUganda416 records
Countries and regions with the most records
eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.
About
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".
Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia
Questions
How big is the Marabou Stork?
The Marabou Stork weighs around 6.1 kg.
Where does the Marabou Stork live?
Its breeding range: Africa: widespread south of the Sahara. It is most often recorded in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
When is the best time to see the Marabou Stork?
At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in November (Southern Hemisphere).
Is the Marabou Stork endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the Marabou Stork as Least Concern.
What does the Marabou Stork eat?
Main food: Omnivore.
What family is the Marabou Stork in?
It belongs to the family Storks (Ciconiidae), order Ciconiiformes.
At a glance
- Weight
- 6.1 kg
- Habitat
- Grassland
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Lifestyle
- Active on the ground
- Migration
- Resident (barely migrates)
- Conservation
- Least Concern
More measurements
- Wing
- 708 mm
- Tail
- 266 mm
- Bill
- 316 mm
- Tarsus
- 266 mm
Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.
Range
Africa: widespread south of the Sahara
Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2
Classification
- Order
- Ciconiiformes
- Family
- Storks Ciconiidae
- Genus
- Leptoptilos
Other birds in the genus Leptoptilos
Lesser AdjutantLeptoptilos javanicus
Greater AdjutantLeptoptilos dubius
African OpenbillAnastomus lamelligerus
Asian OpenbillAnastomus oscitans
Wood StorkMycteria americana
Yellow-billed StorkMycteria ibis
Painted StorkMycteria leucocephala
Milky StorkMycteria cinerea
JabiruJabiru mycteria
Saddle-billed StorkEphippiorhynchus senegalensis
Download illustration
Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by ugqira52-. ↗
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