Abdims stork
Striking about this bird is its plumage, which has a dark brown coloration on the upperparts and a light blue, almost white coloration on the underparts (breast and wings). In addition, the stork has a purple stripe on its back…
Appearance
Striking about him is his plumage, which has a blackish-brown coloration on the upper side and a light blue, almost white coloration on the underside (chest and wings). In addition, the stork has a purple stripe on its back, which sometimes shines greenish. Another feature of the Abdim's stork is its bare face, where the skin is dark blue and red around the eyes. During the breeding season, these colors intensify and become much more vibrant, especially in males. With a body size of only 75 to 80 centimeters, this is a rather small stork species, and accordingly, the wingspan is also small.
Distribution of the Abdim's Stork in the African Continent
The breeding areas of these birds include regions south of the Sahara, with the population being larger in the east. Savannas and flat grasslands are particularly popular habitats, but higher-lying areas are also chosen. Important factors in selecting the breeding area are hiding and nesting sites. Here, the storks prefer tall trees on which they build nests that can have a diameter of up to 1.5 meters. Outside the breeding season, these storks are mainly found in southern and eastern Africa, where the availability of food is particularly important.
Diet
The preferred diet of the Abdim's stork includes, among other things: small mammals, reptiles, insects, amphibians, and fish. Their long and sharp beak is advantageous for hunting, making it easy to quickly snatch and kill small prey. For this purpose, the Abdim's stork remains still for a long time in one place until an animal ventures near enough to be caught.
