Mycteria americana

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular names
English : Wood stork
French : Tantale d’Amérique

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Pelecaniformes
Family : Ciconiidae
Notes : No subspecies known

Identification
Adults can grow to a size of 1 m for a weight of 3 kg. Unmistakable species. Large slightly curved dark grey-black bill. Naked head and upper neck with brown bony plates on head. Plumage white with black flight feathers. Dark legs.

Range and habitat
The species occurs from extreme south USA (Florida) to Caribbean islands, coastal areas of Central America and from Colombia to north Argentina. Lives in all kinds of wetlands, including coastal areas and gallery forests, to 2000 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is declining in central and south America because of deforestation and destruction of wetlands. North American population is increasing.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation
Dallas Zoo (USA), Houston Zoo (USA), Vogelpark Niendorf (Germany)

 

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