Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus) lives in wetlands grasslands across Sub-Saharan Africa. It feeds on frogs and fish. Its conservation status is Near Threatened.
Fascinating facts about the Woolly-necked Stork
- At just 75-92 cm tall, the Asian woolly-necked stork is about the height of a kitchen countertop. Its deep crimson iris and glistening black plumage hide a striking white "bishop's" neck, while a narrow band of neon orange-red skin flashes on the forearm during flight displays.
- More than 44 % of woolly-necked stork nests are reused year after year. In Haryana, India, over half of the nests were built on native trees like Dalbergia sissoo and Ficus religiosa, while a few perched on electricity pylons. Dusky eagle-owls and black kites.
- Woolly-necked storks spend roughly one-third of their day (32-33 %) searching for food, yet only 10-19 % on vigilance, even when farmers work nearby. This low alert time indicates they feel safe among crops, allowing them to allocate more energy to feeding. Their foraging efficiency rises in drier fallow fields compared with flooded rice paddies, highlighting how traditional, low-intensity agriculture provides ideal hunting grounds for these waders.
- The species once thought to number only about 25 000 individuals across South and Southeast Asia is now estimated at over 200 000 in South Asia alone. This upward revision came after surveys showed that most birds live in unprotected agricultural wetlands rather than forest reserves.
- Woolly-necked storks have been recorded soaring at altitudes of 3 790 m in China's Napahai wetland and 3 540 m in Nepal's Annapurna Conservation Area. Their broad wings let them ride thermals for long-distance travel, while occasional rolls, tumbles and steep dives create a loud "bat-like" noise.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSub-Saharan Africa
HabitatWetlands grasslands
DietFrogs and fish
About the Woolly-necked Stork
In the lush wetlands and grasslands, the woolly-necked stork moves with stately elegance, its long legs striding purposefully as it searches for unsuspecting fish and frogs to snatch from the murky waters. With its sleek black and white feathers glistening in the sunlight, this majestic bird exudes a quiet confidence, its very presence seeming to command the attention of all who share its domain. As it takes to the skies, its broad wings beating slowly and deliberately, the woolly-necked stork embodies a sense of timeless, unhurried grace, a true marvel of evolution.
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