Yellow-billed Stork: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Storks and Shorebirds · day 3 of 7

Five facts

1. The yellow-billed stork scoops up fish up to 150 g and swallows them whole in one gulp.
2. It hunts mostly by touch, not sight, wading with its bill half open and probing for prey.
3. A female lays 2 to 4 eggs, usually three. Both parents take turns incubating them, for up to 30 days.
4. Chicks grow from a feather-light 50 g to a hefty 600 g in just ten days.
5. It is a part-time nomad: it may move on when water levels or rainfall make its feeding grounds poor.

The quiz

1. How does the yellow-billed stork swallow its fish?

• In small pieces
• Whole, in one gulp (correct)
• After drying them
• After shaking them on land

It swallows fish whole in one gulp.

2. How does the yellow-billed stork mainly find its prey?

• It feels them with its bill (correct)
• It spots them by moonlight
• It hears them splash
• It follows their smell

It relies mostly on touch, feeling for prey with its bill.

3. How long does incubation last?

• Up to 3 days
• Up to 10 days
• Up to 90 days
• Up to 30 days (correct)

Both parents share incubation, which lasts up to 30 days.

4. How heavy are the chicks after ten days?

• 600 g (correct)
• 60 g
• 100 g
• 6 kg

Chicks grow from 50 g to 600 g in ten days.

5. What can make the stork move to a new place?

• Cold winters
• Rival birds
• Poor water or rain conditions for feeding (correct)
• The full moon

It may move to avoid places where water or rainfall make feeding hard.

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