Marabou stork

Introduction: Marabou storks (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) visit both terrestrial and aquatic habitats such as wetlands, rivers, pans and dams as well as in wildlife areas. They are often observed standing still and on hot days to excrete urine onto the leg for evaporating cooling purposes.

Distribution: Mainly found in north-eastern Namibia such as Etosha National Park, Caprivi with scattered populations found throughout central and northern ranges of the country as well. Large numbers occur in the Okavango Delta.

Diet: Although Marabou storks are primarily scavengers they often walk in shallow water to eat fish stranded in drying pools. Gathers at carcasses and also eats mice and rats, eggs and young of the Nile crocodiles, locusts, caterpillars, beetles and insects.

Description: Marabou storks are very large storks with massive bills. Crumeniferus is a Latin meaning for 'a leather pouch', referring to the inflatable air sac on the throat and upper back. The specialized fluffy underbill coverts are known as 'marabou down'. The white foreneck has a ruff at the base which surrounds the deep crimson or orange-red air sac, which is only visible when inflated. Grey and white plumage and bare neck and head. Leptoptilos is a Greek word for 'thin, slender plumes'.

Breeding: Nests in traditional sites shared with other birds such as cormorants, ibises and herons. Between 1 and 4 eggs are laid from July to September and incubated for about 30 days.

Size: 1.5m.

Weight: 7kg.

Wingspan: 2.5m.