Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The Oriental Stork is a large, endangered bird of East Asian wetlands, with a white body, black wing feathers and bill, and red legs. Adult Oriental Storks communicate by clattering their bills.

Appearance

Appearance: This large white stork has black wing feathers, a black bill, and long red legs. It measures about 3.6–3.8 ft (1.1–1.15 m) long.
Voice: Adults communicate by clattering their bills.

Look-alikes

White StorkCiconia ciconia

Both are white storks with black wing feathers, but the Oriental Stork has a black bill. The White Stork's bill is red.

Why they get mixed upThey are close relatives and were once placed in one species.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: East Asian marshes
Wet meadows
River valleys
Range: The wild species breeds in far eastern Russia and northeastern China and winters mainly farther south in East Asia. It is on display at the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky.

Behavior

Diet: In its native range, it eats fish, amphibians, insects, and other small animals.

Life cycle

Nest: In its native breeding range, pairs build large stick nests high in trees.
Clutch size: Usually 2–6 eggs

Name and classification

About the name: It was once included in the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) as Ciconia ciconia boyciana, but is now treated as a separate species. It is also called the Oriental White Stork.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: ENEndangeredVery high risk of extinction in the wild
Status: Loss of wetland habitat and nesting trees threatens the wild population.

12 sources