Portrait Of a Marabou Stork
Animals

by

Paul Coco

Portrait Of a Marabou Stork
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Portrait Of a Marabou Stork
The marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It breeds in Africa south of the Sahara, in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially landfill sites. It is sometimes called the "undertaker bird" due to its shape from behind: cloak-like wings and back, skinny white legs, and sometimes a large white mass of "hair". Personally, I think it is really Darth Vader without his helmet!