Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria) lives in tropical freshwater wetland across Central and South America. It feeds on fish and frogs. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Jabiru
- The jabiru holds the title of the tallest flying bird in South and Central America, regularly standing close to the height of the much heavier greater rhea. Adults measure between 120 and 140 cm in length, and the largest males can reach a height of 1.53 m.
- With a wingspan ranging from 2.3 to 2.8 m, the jabiru possesses the second-largest wing spread on the continent, second only to the Andean condor when great albatrosses are excluded. This broad wing area gives it powerful lift, enabling long, graceful flights over the Pantanal and Chaco wetlands. The extensive wings also aid in soaring on thermals, allowing the bird to travel great distances while searching for feeding sites.
- Male jabirus are about 25 % larger than females, a degree of sexual dimorphism possibly the highest among all storks. The average male weighs 6.89 kg, while females average 5.22 kg.
- The jabiru's beak is a striking 25-35 cm long, black and slightly upturned, ending in a sharp point that snaps shut on prey. When foraging, the bird holds its open bill at a 45-degree angle in shallow water, feeling for movement rather than relying on sight. Upon contact, it quickly closes the bill, pulls it out of the water and throws its head back to swallow the catch.
- Jabiru nests are massive platforms of sticks that are built by both parents each year and then reused, becoming larger with each season. The structures are often deeper than they are wide, reaching up to 1 m across and 1.8 m deep, and can expand to several metres in diameter as they are added to. They are constructed on tall trees during August-September in the Southern Hemisphere, often close to other jabiru nests and sometimes among heron colonies.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeCentral and South America
HabitatTropical freshwater wetland
DietFish and frogs
About the Jabiru
In the lush wetlands of Central and South America, the jabiru stalks its prey with deliberate patience, its long, stilt-like legs moving silently through the shallows as it scans the waters for unsuspecting fish and frogs. With its distinctive black and white plumage and imposing wingspan, this majestic bird is a striking presence, its slow, deliberate movements belied by the swift, deadly strike of its sharp bill. As it wades through the aquatic landscape, the jabiru embodies a serene and ancient authority, a true monarch of the tropical wetlands.
Hear the Jabiru, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
