View source for Marabou stork

{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{For|the extinct "giant marabou stork" of Flores|Leptoptilos robustus}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer).jpg
| image_caption = [[Uganda]]
| image2 = Marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) in flight 2.jpg
| image2_caption = [[Ethiopia]]
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Leptoptilos crumenifer'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T22697716A93633034 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22697716A93633034.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| taxon = Leptoptilos crumenifer
| authority = ([[Rene Primevere Lesson|Lesson, RP]], 1831)
| range_map = Leptoptilos crumeniferus distribution map.png
| synonyms = * ''Ciconia crumenifera''
* ''Leptoptilos crumeniferus''
}}

The '''marabou stork''' ('''''Leptoptilos crumenifer''''') is a large wading [[bird]] in the [[stork]] family [[Ciconiidae]] native to [[Sub-Saharan Africa | sub-Saharan Africa]]. It breeds in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially [[landfill]] sites. It is sometimes called the "[[Funeral director|undertaker]] bird" due to its shape from behind: cloak-like wings and back, skinny white legs, and sometimes a large white mass of "hair".<ref>{{cite web |title=The Undertaker Bird – Enchanted by the Wild |url=https://thomasbancroft.org/the-undertaker-bird/ |last1=Bancroft |first1=Thomas|date=20 March 2020}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=January 2023}} It has often been credited with the largest [[wingspan]] of any land bird, with an average of {{convert|2.6|m|ft}} and some recorded examples of up to {{convert|3.2|m|ft}}.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T3FEKopUFkUC&pg=PA118 |page=118 |title=Animal Records |author=Mark Carwardine |location=London |publisher=[[Sterling Publishing]] |year=2008|isbn=978-1-4027-5623-8 }}</ref>

==Taxonomy==
The marabou stork was [[species description|formally described]] in 1831 by the French naturalist [[René Lesson]]. He placed it in the stork genus ''[[Ciconia]]'' and coined the [[binomial name]] ''Ciconia crumenifera''. He specified that [[type locality (biology)|locality]] as Senegal.<ref>{{ cite book | last=Lesson | first=René  | author-link=René Lesson | year=1831 | title=Traité d'Ornithologie, ou Tableau Méthodique | volume=1 | language=French | location=Paris | publisher=F.G. Levrault | page=585 (Livraison 8) | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35997569 }} Published in 8 ''livraisons'' between 1830 and 1831. For the publication date see: {{ cite book | last1=Dickinson | first1=E.C. | author1-link=Edward C. Dickinson | last2=Overstreet | first2=L.K. | last3=Dowsett | first3=R.J. | last4=Bruce | first4=M.D. | year=2011 | title=Priority! The Dating of Scientific Names in Ornithology: a Directory to the literature and its reviewers | location=Northampton, UK | publisher=Aves Press | isbn=978-0-9568611-1-5 | page=119 | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267763194 }} </ref> The species epithet means "carrying a [[wikt:crumena|purse]] around the neck". The species is now placed with the [[lesser adjutant]] and the [[greater adjutant]] in the genus ''[[Leptoptilos]]'' that Lesson had introduced at the same time he described the marabou stork.<ref name=ioc>{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen | date=August 2022 | title=Storks, frigatebirds, boobies, darters, cormorants | work=IOC World Bird List Version 12.2 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/storks/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=16 November 2022 }}</ref> The species is [[monotypic]]: no [[subspecies]] are recognised.<ref name=ioc/>

The common name marabou is thought to be derived from the Arabic word ''[[marabout|murābit]]'' meaning quiet or hermit-like.<ref>{{cite book|author=Yule, Henry|title=Hobson-Jobson. A glossary of colloquial Anglo-Indian words and phrases, and of kindred terms, etymological, historical, geographical and discursive|year=1903|edition=2nd|url= https://archive.org/stream/hobsonjobsonbein00yuleuoft#page/7/mode/1up|page=7| publisher=John Murray|place= London}}</ref> The species was originally described as ''Ciconia crumenifera''. When the species was moved into the genus ''Leptoptilos'', the ending was modified to ''crumeniferus'' and this was used by many authors until it was noted that the correct masculine ending to match the genus is ''crumenifer''.<ref>{{ cite journal | last1=David | first1=N. | last2=Gosselin | first2=M. | date=2011 | title=Gender agreement of avian species-group names under Art. 31.2.2 of the ICZN Code | journal=Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club | volume=131 | issue=2 | pages=103–115 [105–106] | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50795670 }}</ref>

==Description==
The marabou stork is a massive bird: large specimens are thought to reach a height of {{convert|152|cm|ft|abbr=off|round=0.5}} and a weight of {{convert|9|kg|lb|abbr=on|round=0.5}}.<ref>{{cite book|author=Likoff, Laurie E. |title=The Encyclopedia of Birds|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ILEMaU74oXgC&pg=PA616|access-date=21 August 2012|year=1986|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-0-8160-5904-1|pages=616–}}</ref><ref>Stevenson, Terry and Fanshawe, John (2001). ''Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi''. Elsevier Science, {{ISBN|978-0856610790}}</ref> A wingspan of {{convert|3.7|m|ft|abbr=on}} was accepted by Fisher and Peterson, who ranked the species as having the largest wing-spread of any living bird. Even higher measurements of up to {{convert|4.06|m|ft|abbr=on}} have been reported, although no measurement over {{convert|3.20|m|ft|abbr=on}} has been verified.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} It is often credited with the largest spread of any landbird, to rival the [[Andean condor]]; more typically, however, these storks measure {{convert|225|–|287|cm|ft|0|abbr=on}} across the wings, which is about a foot less than the average Andean condor wingspan and nearly two feet less than the average of the largest [[albatross]]es and [[pelican]]s. Typical weight is {{convert|4.5|–|8|kg|lb|abbr=on|round=0.5}}, unusually as low as {{convert|4|kg|lb|abbr=on|round=0.5}}, and length (from bill to tail) is {{convert|120|to|130|cm|in|abbr=on|0}}. Females are smaller than males. Bill length can range from {{convert|26.4|to|35|cm|in|abbr=on|round=0.5}}.<ref name= Hancock/><ref>Carwardine, ''Animal Records (Natural History Museum)''. Sterling (2008), {{ISBN|978-1-4027-5623-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | author = Wood, Gerald | title = The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats | year = 1983 | publisher = Guinness Superlatives | isbn = 978-0-85112-235-9 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/guinnessbookofan00wood }}</ref> Unlike most storks, the three ''[[Leptoptilos]]'' species fly with the neck retracted like a [[heron]].

The marabou is unmistakable due to its size, bare head and neck, black back, and white underparts. It has a huge bill, a pink [[gular sac]] at its throat (''crumenifer(us)'' means "carrier of a pouch for money"), a neck ruff, and white legs and black wings. The sexes are alike, but the young bird is browner and has a smaller bill. Full maturity is not reached for up to four years.

==Behavior and ecology==
Like most storks, the marabou is gregarious and a [[Bird colony|colonial breeder]]. In the African dry season (when food is more readily available as the pools shrink), it builds a tree nest in which two or three [[bird egg|eggs]] are laid. It is known to be quite ill-tempered.

It also resembles other storks in that it is not very vocal, but indulges in bill-rattling [[display (zoology)|courtship display]]s. The throat sac is also used to make various noises at that time.

===Breeding===
The marabou stork breeds in Africa south of the Sahara. In East Africa, the birds interact with humans and breed in urban areas. In southern African countries, the birds breed mainly in less populated areas.<ref>{{CiteQ|Q115612348}}</ref> The marabou stork breeds in colonies, starting during the dry season. The female lays two to three eggs in a small nest made of sticks; eggs hatch after an incubation period of 30 days. Their young reach sexual maturity at 4 years of age. Lifespan is 43 years in captivity and 25 years in wild.<ref name=adw>{{cite web| last=Muckley| first=A.| title=''Leptoptilos crumeniferus''| url=http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Leptoptilos_crumeniferus/| work=University of Michigan Museum of Zoology| publisher=Animal Diversity Web}}</ref>

===Feeding===
[[File:Marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) head.jpg|thumb|left|In [[Queen Elizabeth National Park]], Uganda]]
[[File:Leptoptilos crumeniferus and vultures -Masai Mara -Kenya-8.jpg|thumb|left|A marabou stork and [[Griffon vulture]]s (''G. fulvus'') scavenging in the [[Masai Mara]], Kenya]]

The marabou stork is a frequent [[scavenger]], and the naked head and long neck are adaptations to this livelihood, as it is with the [[Old World vulture|vultures]] with which the stork often feeds. In both cases, a [[feather]]ed head would become rapidly clotted with [[blood]] and other substances when the bird's head was inside a large corpse, and the bare head is easier to keep clean.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}

This large and powerful bird eats mainly [[carrion]], scraps, and [[faeces]] but will opportunistically eat almost any animal matter it can swallow. It occasionally eats other birds including ''[[Quelea]]'' nestlings, [[pigeon]]s, [[dove]]s, [[pelican]] and [[cormorant]] chicks, and even [[flamingo]]s. During the breeding season, adults scale back on carrion and take mostly small, live prey since nestlings need this kind of food to survive. Common prey at this time may consist of fish, frogs, insects, eggs, small mammals and reptiles such as crocodile hatchlings and eggs,<ref name= Hancock>Hancock, Kushlan & Kahl, Storks, ''Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills of the World''. Princeton University Press (1992), {{ISBN|978-0-12-322730-0}}</ref> and lizards and snakes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.arkive.org/marabou-stork/leptoptilos-crumeniferus/image-G62878.html |title=Marabou stork photo – Leptoptilos crumeniferus – G62878 &#124; Arkive |access-date=22 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207064316/http://www.arkive.org/marabou-stork/leptoptilos-crumeniferus/image-G62878.html |archive-date=7 February 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Though known to eat putrid and seemingly inedible foods, these storks may sometimes wash food in water to remove soil.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Seibt, U.  |author2=Wickler, W.  |name-list-style=amp |year=1978| title= Marabou Storks Wash Dung Beetles | journal=Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie |volume=46| pages=324–327| doi= 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1978.tb01453.x|issue= 3}}</ref>

When feeding on carrion, marabou frequently follow vultures, which are better equipped with hooked bills for tearing through carrion meat and may wait for the vultures to cast aside a piece, steal a piece of meat directly from the vulture or wait until the vultures are done.<ref name= Hancock/> As with vultures, marabou storks perform an important natural function by cleaning areas via their ingestion of carrion and waste.

Increasingly, marabous have become dependent on human garbage and hundreds of the huge birds can be found around African dumps or waiting for a hand out in urban areas. Marabous eating human garbage have been seen to devour virtually anything that they can swallow, including shoes and pieces of metal. Marabous conditioned to eating from human sources have been known to lash out when refused food.<ref name= Hancock/>

===Threats===
Fully grown marabou storks have few natural enemies, and have high annual survival rate,<ref>Kahl M. (2009) ‘ A Contribution to the Ecology and Reproductive Biology of the Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos Crumeniferus) in East Africa’, Journal of Zoology, 148: 289–311.</ref> though [[lion]]s have reportedly preyed on some individuals in ambush.<ref>Tumenta, P. N. et al. 2013. Lion predation on livestock and native wildlife in Waza National Park, northern Cameroon.– Mammalia 77: 247–251.</ref> A number of [[endoparasites]] have been identified in wild marabous including ''[[Cheilospirura]]'', ''[[Echiura|Echinura]]'' and ''[[Acuaria]]'' [[nematodes]], ''[[Amoebotaenia sphenoides]]'' (Cestoda) and ''[[Dicrocoelium hospes]]'' (Trematoda).<ref>{{cite journal|title= Gastro-intestinal helminths of marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus)|author1=Bwangamoi, O. |author2=Dranzoa, C. |author3=Ocaido, M. |author4=Kamatei, G. S |journal=African Journal of Ecology| year=2003| volume=41| issue=1|pages=111–113|doi=10.1046/j.1365-2028.2003.00418.x|bibcode=2003AfJEc..41..111B }}</ref>

==Human uses==
{{Main article|Marabou (fashion)}}
[[File:BLW Evening Cloak.jpg|thumb|upright|1920 cloak, hem trimmed with marabou feathers]]

Marabou down is frequently used in the trimming of various items of clothing and hats, as well as [[fishing lures]].<ref name="OED">[http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-marabou.html ''The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2008''] ([[Oxford University Press]], 2008)</ref> Turkey down and similar feathers have been used as a substitute for making 'marabou' trimming.<ref name=terry>{{cite book |last1=Hellekson |first1=Terry |date=2005 |title=Fish flies: the encyclopedia of the fly tier's art |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zaP74hiL3hIC&pg=PA91 |edition=1st |location=Salt Lake City |publisher=Gibbs Smith |isbn=9781586856922 |page=91}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Marabou stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus edit1.jpg|[[Mikumi National Park]], Tanzania
File:The Big Game of Africa (1910) - Giant Marabou.png|Large marabou stork, [[British East Africa]]
File:Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) skeleton at the Royal Veterinary College anatomy museum.JPG|Skeleton of a marabou stork
File:The Childrens Museum of Indianapolis - Marabou stork skull cast.jpg|Skull cast from a ''Leptoptilos crumenifer'' displays its long beak
File:Marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) spreading wings.jpg|Spreading wings, [[Uganda]]
File:Marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) spreading wings 2.jpg|Spreading wings, Ethiopia
Marabou storks (Leptoptilos crumenifer) on elephant carcass.jpg|Feeding on elephant carcass
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons|Leptoptilos crumenifer|''Leptoptilos crumenifer''}}
{{Wikispecies|Leptoptilos crumenifer|''Leptoptilos crumenifer''}}
* [http://sabap2.adu.org.za/docs/sabap1/089.pdf Marabou Stork] – ''The Atlas of Southern African Birds''

{{Storks}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q512737}}

[[Category:Birds described in 1831]]
[[Category:Birds of East Africa]]
[[Category:Birds of Sub-Saharan Africa]]
[[Category:Leptoptilos]]
[[Category:Scavengers]]
[[Category:Taxa named by René Lesson]]