Photo: Steve Garvie / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Saddle-billed Stork
Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) — Storks of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) is a member of the Ciconiidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 6.2 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Ciconiiformes
- Family Ciconiidae Storks
- Genus Ephippiorhynchus
- Species senegalensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 6.2 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Ciconiidae
- Order
- Ciconiiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Saddle-billed Stork hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Saddle-billed Stork is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) is a member of the Ciconiidae family, within the order Ciconiiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread s of the Sahara.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 6.2 kg, with a wing length of about 61.7 cm and a tail of around 28.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 11.1 million km² — a very large global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Saddle-billed Stork?
The Saddle-billed Stork is a very large bird that weighs around 6.2 kg.
Where does the Saddle-billed Stork live?
The Saddle-billed Stork is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread s of the Sahara, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Saddle-billed Stork belong to?
The Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) belongs to the Ciconiidae family, in the order Ciconiiformes.
What does the Saddle-billed Stork eat?
The Saddle-billed Stork hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Saddle-billed Stork migrate?
The Saddle-billed Stork is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Saddle-billed Stork endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
How large is the Saddle-billed Stork's range?
The Saddle-billed Stork has a mapped global range of about 11.1 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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