Photo: Benjamin Hollis from Seattle, WA, USA / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Marabou Stork
Leptoptilos crumenifer
Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) — Storks of Africa.
Found across 11 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) is a member of the Ciconiidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 6.1 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 Leptoptilos
- Species crumenifer
Quick facts
- Weight
- 6.1 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Ciconiidae
- Order
- Ciconiiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Marabou Stork is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Marabou Stork is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) is a species of bird in the Ciconiidae family, part of the order Ciconiiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread s of the Sahara.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 6.1 kg, with a wing length of about 70.9 cm and a tail of around 26.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 12.4 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Marabou Stork?
The Marabou Stork is a very large bird that weighs around 6.1 kg.
Where does the Marabou Stork live?
The Marabou Stork is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread s of the Sahara, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Marabou Stork belong to?
The Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) belongs to the Ciconiidae family, in the order Ciconiiformes.
What does the Marabou Stork eat?
The Marabou Stork is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Marabou Stork migrate?
The Marabou Stork is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Marabou Stork 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 Marabou Stork make?
1 real field recording of the Marabou Stork — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Marabou Stork's range?
The Marabou Stork has a mapped global range of about 12.4 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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