Marabou Stork

Afrikaans name: Maraboe

Marabou Storks are not pretty birds!

Photo © Michael Ransburg - Fotolia.com

Leptoptilos crumeniferus

The Marabou Stork reminds many people of an undertaker! This large bird can often be seen looking for scraps on rubbish dumps or at a carcass amongst the vultures. It mainly scavenges for food but will take other prey, especially birds, if it has the opportunity.

These large birds can stand up to 150 cm tall and weigh around 9 kg. Unverified records indicate that they can have a wingspan of nearly 4 metres which would mean that they have the largest wingspan of any bird. The bill of the Marabou is around 30 cm in length.

Marabou Storks are most commonly seen in small flocks and they breed in a colony as well. They nest in trees and 2 or 3 eggs are laid.

Photo © Michael Ransburg - Fotolia.com

In South Africa they are mainly found in the northern and eastern regions, particularly in Kruger National Park. Beyond our borders they are widely distributed over sub-Saharan Africa.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	73	Leptoptilos crumeniferus
2nd	73	Leptoptilos crumeniferus
3rd	73	Leptoptilos crumeniferus
4th	73	Leptoptilos crumeniferus
5th	89	Leptoptilos crumeniferus
6th	89	Leptoptilos crumenifer
7th	469	Leptoptilos crumenifer

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	73	Marabou Stork
2nd	73	Marabou Stork
3rd	73	Marabou
4th	73	Marabou Stork
5th	89	Marabou Stork
6th	89	Marabou Stork
7th	469	Marabou Stork

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	73	Maraboe
2nd	73	Maraboe
3rd	73	Maraboe
4th	73	Maraboe
5th	89	Maraboe
6th	89	Maraboe
7th	469	Maraboe

References and further reading

Wild Issue 45 - Author: - Published: 2018 - Page: 78

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 38

World Birds - Author: Brian P. Martin - Published: 1987 - Page: 83

Wading Birds of the World - Revised edition - Author: Eric and Richard Soothill - Published: 1989 - Page: 92

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 27

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 66

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 70

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 79

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 106

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 70

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 46

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 69

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 186

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 32

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 42

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 76

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 18

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 76

Ian Sinclair s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 58

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 408

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 36

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 25

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 10

Everyone s Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 54

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 32

Birds of the Kruger and other National Parks - Volume 1 - Author: National Parks Board - Published: 1974 - Page: 6

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 22

Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 58

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 46

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 55

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 179

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 179

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 41

BirdLife South Africa

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