Mycteria ibis
The Yellow-billed Stork, *Mycteria ibis*, is an imposing and elegant wading bird, standing approximately 90-105 cm (35-41 inches) tall with a wingspan of 150-165 cm (59-65 inches) and weighing 1.9-2.5 kg (4.2-5.5 lbs). Its plumage is predominantly pristine white, strikingly contrasted by iridescent greenish-black primary and secondary flight feathers, visible especially in flight. Distinctive field marks include its prominent, bright yellow, slightly decurved bill, which darkens to orange-red...
Primarily inhabiting shallow freshwater wetlands, such as marshes, swamps, floodplains, and lake shores, the Yellow-billed Stork is also found in coastal lagoons and estuaries. It prefers low-lying areas and is rarely observed at higher elevations.
The Yellow-billed Stork primarily feeds on small fish, frogs, and aquatic invertebrates such as crustaceans and insects. It typically forages by tacto-location, sweeping its open bill through shallow water.
Yellow-billed Storks are diurnal birds, spending their days foraging in shallow waters and roosting communally in large trees or on sandbanks at night. Their most remarkable behavior is their unique tactile foraging strategy: they wade slowly, often stirring the bottom with one foot to flush prey...
The Yellow-billed Stork boasts a vast breeding and resident range across sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar, extending from Senegal and Gambia in the west, eastward through the Sahel and across the Nile River basin, down to South Africa, and including the island of Madagascar. While largely reside...
Least Concern
- The Yellow-billed Stork is sometimes called the "Dancing Stork" due to its habit of shuffling its feet while foraging, which stirs up prey from the bottom. - It possesses one of the fastest bill-snap reflexes among birds, taking only about 19 milliseconds for its bill to close once prey is dete...