Woolly-necked Stork

Woolly-necked Stork
Lake Periyar, Idduki, Kerala, India
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Ciconiiformes
Family:	Ciconiidae
Genus:	Ciconia
Species:	C. episcopus
Binomial name
Ciconia episcopus Boddaert, 1783

The Woolly-necked Stork or White necked stork (Ciconia episcopus) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It can also be known as the Espiscopos.

It is a widespread tropical species which breeds in Africa, and also in Asia from India to Indonesia. It is a resident breeder in wetlands with trees. The large stick nest is built in a forest tree, and 2-5 eggs form the typical clutch. This stork is usually silent, but indulges in mutual bill-clattering when adults meet at the nest.

Flying in Maharashtra, India

The Woolly-necked Stork is a broad winged soaring bird, which relies on moving between thermals of hot air for sustained long distance flight. Like all storks, it flies with its neck outstretched.

The Woolly-necked Stork is a large bird, typically 85 cm tall. It is glistening black with black 'skull cap',white neck and white lower belly. The upper parts are glossed dark green, and the breast and belly have a purple hue.It has long red legs and heavy blackish bill.Sexes are alike. Juvenile birds are duller versions of the adult.

African birds, C. e. microscelis, have the head mainly black, but the nominate Asian race, C. e. episcopus, has the head mainly white except for a darker area around the eyes. Eastern Indonesian birds belong to a third form, C. e. neglecta.

The Woolly-necked Stork walks slowly and steadily on the ground seeking its prey, which like that of most of its relatives, consists of amphibians, small reptiles and large insects. African birds are attracted to bush fires.

The bird derives its scientific species name from the black and white vestments formerly worn by clerics.

The Woolly-necked Stork is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

References

• BirdLife International (2008). Ciconia episcopus. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 3 February 2009.
• Birds of The Gambia by Barlow, Wacher and Disley, ISBN 1-873403-32-1
• Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6

Different views & aspects

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  In the fields near Hodal in Faridabad District of Haryana, India.

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  with Black-headed Ibis & Painted Stork at Pocharam lake, Andhra Pradesh, India

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  Taking off from the fields near Hodal in Faridabad District of Haryana, India

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External links

• BirdLife Species Factsheet
• IUCN Red List
• Woolly-necked Stork videos, photos & sounds on the Internet Bird Collection