- Ciconia ciconia
Identification
100-125 cm. Completely white, black wing flight feathers, red bill and legs, which are black on juveniles.
Distribution
Europe (north to Estonia), northwest Africa, and southwest Asia (east to southern Kazakhstan). It winters mainly in tropical Africa, down to the south of South Africa, and also in the Indian subcontinent.
Taxonomy
There are two subspecies:
Ciconia ciconia ciconia, - Europe, northwest Africa, westernmost Asia; wintering in Africa.
Ciconia ciconia asiatica, - West-central Asia; wintering in India.
Habitat
Open farmland areas with access to marshy wetlands.
Behaviour
They build a stick nest in trees, on buildings, or special platforms.
The diet includes frogs, large insects, young birds, lizards and rodents.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Ciconia ciconia (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
External Links
