Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer).
Taken in Mana Pools N.P. near the Zambezi River on the border of Zimbabwe.
A large wading bird 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.
It has the largest wingspan of any land bird, with an average of 2.6 metres and some recorded examples of up to 3.2 metres.
The marabou stork is a frequent scavenger, and the naked head and long neck are adaptations to this livelihood, as it is with the vultures with which the stork often feeds.
Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer).
Taken in Mana Pools N.P. near the Zambezi River on the border of Zimbabwe.
A large wading bird 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.
It has the largest wingspan of any land bird, with an average of 2.6 metres and some recorded examples of up to 3.2 metres.
The marabou stork is a frequent scavenger, and the naked head and long neck are adaptations to this livelihood, as it is with the vultures with which the stork often feeds.