Wood Stork
Mycteria americana
Conservation Status
Least ConcernAves · Ciconiiformes · Ciconiidae
About
The wood stork is a large wading bird in the family Ciconiidae (storks). Originally described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus, this stork is native to the subtropics and tropics of the Americas where it persists in habitats with fluctuating water levels. It is the only stork species that breeds in North America. The head and neck are bare of feathers, and dark grey in colour. The plumage is mostly white, with the exception of the tail and some of the wing feathers, which are black with a greenish-purplish sheen.
Fun Fact
Wood Storks are tactile feeders that hold their beaks open in water and snap shut in 25 milliseconds—one of the fastest reflexes of any vertebrate.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Restricted to the Pacific coast.
Diet
Eats mostly fish, supplemented by insects.
Lifespan
To be updated
Threats
- Habitat Change
- Human Disturbance