A large, elegant bird, part of the stork family, whose beauty is often overshadowed by the more famous White stork. Yet, this species possesses a mystique all its own, with a strikingly contrasting plumage of iridescent black with green, purple, and bronze gloss on its back and wings and stark white underparts. These birds are most often found in the quieter, more secluded stretches of marshes, rivers, and inland waters across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Unlike their cousins, the Black storks are elusive and less often seen. They favor the tranquility of dense, old forests and secluded woodlands for nesting, often choosing the tallest trees to place their large stick nests. In habitats where trees are sparse, they adapt by nesting on cliffs or rocky outcrops. These nesting sites are typically away from human disturbance, which is notable given the bird’s shy and reclusive nature.
These storks are migratory, covering vast distances between their breeding and wintering grounds. Some populations, however, are sedentary, particularly those in the southernmost parts of their range. During migration, they may form flocks of hundreds, a striking sight against the sky, but outside of these times, they are largely solitary or found in pairs, especially during the breeding season.
Black storks feed on a variety of aquatic creatures. Their diet includes fish, amphibians, small reptiles, insects, and occasionally small mammals and birds, which they hunt with stealth and precision in the waterways of their habitats.
Communication among Black storks involves a series of calls and physical displays. The “chee-lee” call, a high-pitched sound, is often used during mating rituals and to maintain contact between mates and their offspring. Display behaviors include bill-clattering and an “up-down” display where the head and bill are moved rhythmically up and down.
Distribution
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Benin
Bhutan
Bosnia And Herz.
Botswana
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Central Af. Rep.
Chad
China
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Denmark
Djibouti
Egypt
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Finland
France
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malawi
Mali
Malta
Mauritania
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
UAE
Uganda
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
ZimbabweDid you know?
- Ukraine possesses a significant part of the European Black Stork population, which may be underestimated. No detailed studie have been conducted so far. This is an important location as a territory of breeding range margin, where the European Forest zone borders with steppes.
- This is an indicator species for sustainable forestry.
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
