Black Stork: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Storks and Shorebirds · day 2 of 7

Five facts

1. Black storks have been seen shading the water with their wings while hunting.
2. Unlike its cousin the white stork, the black stork is shy and wary. Look for it alone or in pairs, often near marshes.
3. Thermals only form over land, so black storks must cross the Mediterranean at its narrowest points.
4. The trip south is around 5,667 km by the western route and 7,000 km by the eastern one, taking 37 and 80 days on average.
5. A black stork warns or threatens with a hissing call. Its main call, a chee leee, sounds like a loud inhalation.

The quiz

1. What does a black stork do with its wings while hunting?

• Splashes the fish
• Shades the water (correct)
• Flaps to scare the prey
• Folds them over its head

Black storks have been seen shading the water with their wings while hunting.

2. How does the black stork differ from the white stork?

• It is shy and wary (correct)
• It is bold and sociable
• It lives in big flocks all year
• It never visits marshes

Unlike the white stork, the black stork is shy and wary, seen singly or in pairs.

3. Why must black storks cross the Mediterranean at narrow points?

• They cannot fly over water at night
• Fish are easier to catch there
• The wind is stronger there
• Thermals only form over land (correct)

Thermals only form over land, so storks cross at the narrowest points.

4. How long is the western migration route of black storks?

• About 7,000 km
• About 3,000 km
• About 5,667 km (correct)
• About 37 km

The western route is around 5,667 km and the eastern one 7,000 km.

5. What sound does a black stork make as a warning or threat?

• A hiss (correct)
• A roar
• A howl
• A bark

When it wants to warn or threaten, it hisses.

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