Photo: Lip Kee Yap / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
African Openbill
Anastomus lamelligerus
African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus) — Storks of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus) is a member of the Ciconiidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Ciconiiformes
- Family Ciconiidae Storks
- Genus Anastomus
- Species lamelligerus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.1 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Ciconiidae
- Order
- Ciconiiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Near Threatened
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The African Openbill hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The African Openbill is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus) belongs to the Ciconiidae family of the order Ciconiiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 39.4 cm and a tail of around 17.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 13.4 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the African Openbill?
The African Openbill is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.
Where does the African Openbill live?
The African Openbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the African Openbill belong to?
The African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus) belongs to the Ciconiidae family, in the order Ciconiiformes.
What does the African Openbill eat?
The African Openbill hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the African Openbill migrate?
The African Openbill is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the African Openbill endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the African Openbill make?
1 real field recording of the African Openbill can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the African Openbill's range?
The African Openbill has a mapped global range of about 13.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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