SADDLE-BILLED STORK
SADDLE-BILLED STORK (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) – (See images below)
The Saddle-billed stork owes its name to the yellow frontal shield on its bill at the base. The bill is red with a large black band. This stork has very long legs, and is around 5 feet high (150 cm). The neck, lower back and wings are black, and the rest of the plumage is white. They keep their necks extended in flight, as opposed to herons which retract it. The legs are black except for the knees and feet, which are red.
As with other storks, the saddle-billed species feeds on small fish and crabs, but occasionally on birds and reptiles. This bird builds its nest in trees but does not form colonies. It is widespread in Africa south of the Sahara.
The French name of this stork species, ‘jabiru’, is actually the name of another stork species, which is found in the Americas from Mexico southward.
The Saddle-billed stork owes its name to the yellow frontal shield on its bill at the base. The bill is red with a large black band. This stork has very long legs, and is around 5 feet high (150 cm). The neck, lower back and wings are black, and the rest of the plumage is white. They keep their necks extended in flight, as opposed to herons which retract it. The legs are black except for the knees and feet, which are red.
As with other storks, the saddle-billed species feeds on small fish and crabs, but occasionally on birds and reptiles. This bird builds its nest in trees but does not form colonies. It is widespread in Africa south of the Sahara.
The French name of this stork species, ‘jabiru’, is actually the name of another stork species, which is found in the Americas from Mexico southward.
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| Saddle-billed stork, Tanzania, Jan. 2018 |
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| Saddle-billed stork, Tanzania, Jan. 2018 |
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| Saddle-billed stork with Grey heron, Tanzania |