Marabou Stork

Adults have glossy black back and wings, contrasting stark white underparts. The head and neck are largely bare, pinkish-red, with a fleshy, inflatable throat sac (gular pouch). Juveniles are duller and browner with a smaller throat pouch.

Massive wedge-shaped bill, bare pinkish head and neck, dangling throat pouch, contrasting black back and white belly.

Length: 120-150 cm (47-59 in), Wingspan: 225-287 cm (89-113 in), Weight: 4.5-9 kg (10-20 lbs).

Generally silent, but produces croaks, grunts, and bill-clattering displays during breeding season.

Primarily a scavenger feeding on carrion, scraps, and refuse, but also preys on live fish, frogs, insects, rodents, and small birds.

Savannahs, dry grasslands, around lakes, rivers, marshes, and often near human settlements and refuse dumps.

Mainly resident, though some populations make local wandering movements depending on rainfall and food availability.

Breeds colonially in trees near water, building large stick nests. Clutch size is typically 2-3 eggs, incubated by both parents.

Other large storks, but easily distinguished by the naked head, massive bill, and inflatable throat pouch.

Acts as an important scavenger, cleaning up carcasses and preventing the spread of disease alongside vultures.

Least Concern, with a generally stable population trend.

Look near water bodies, garbage dumps, and open grasslands, often soaring high on thermals like vultures.

Marabou storks lack true vocal cords and communicate almost entirely through bill-clattering, earning them the nickname 'clatter-birds'.