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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 106

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 179

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