- Saddle-billed Stork
Taxobox
name = Saddle-billed Stork
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
image_width = 204px
image_caption = An adult Saddle-billed Stork
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis =Aves
ordo =Ciconiiformes
familia =Ciconiidae
genus = "Ephippiorhynchus "
species = "E. senegalensis"
binomial = "Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis"
binomial_authority = (Shaw,1800 )The Saddle-billed Stork ("Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis") is a large wading bird in the
stork family,Ciconiidae . It is a widespread species which is a resident breeder in sub-SaharanAfrica fromSudan ,Ethiopia andKenya south toSouth Africa , and inThe Gambia ,Senegal ,Côte d'Ivoire andChad in westAfrica .This is a close relative of the widespread
Asia nBlack-necked Stork , the only other member of the genus "Ephippiorhynchus".Characteristics
The Saddle-billed Stork breeds in marshes and other wetlands in tropical lowland. It builds a large, deep stick nest in a tree, laying one or two white eggs weighing about 146g each. It does not form breeding colonies, and is usually found alone or in pairs. The incubation period is 30-35 days, with another 70 - 100 days before the chicks fledge.
This is a huge bird that regularly attains a height of 150 cm (5 feet) and a 270cm (9 feet) wingspan. The male is larger and heavier than the female, with a range of 5.1-7.5 kg, the female is usually between 5 and 6.9 kg. It is probably the tallest, if not the heaviest, of the
stork s. Females are distinctly smaller than the males. It is spectacularlyplumage d. The head, neck, back, wings, and tail are iridescent black, with the rest of the body and the primary flight feathers being white. The massive bill is red with a black band and a yellow frontal shield (the “saddle”). The legs and feet are black with pink knees. Sexes are identically plumaged except that the female has a golden yellow iris, while the male's is brown. Juveniles are browner grey in plumage.They are silent except for bill-clattering at the nest. Like most storks, these fly with the neck outstretched, not retracted like a
heron ; in flight, the large heavy bill is kept drooping somewhat below belly height, giving these birds a very unusual appearance to those who see them for the first time (see [http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/afrika/botswana/storch.htm here] for photo). To experiencedbirdwatcher s on the other hand, this makes them easily recognizable even if seen from a distance. It has been suggested that due to the large size and unusual appearance in flight, this species is the basis for the "Big Bird" andKongamato cryptid s.The Saddle-billed Stork, like most of its relatives, feeds mainly on
fish ,frog s andcrab s, but also on youngbird s, and other landvertebrate s. They move in a deliberate and stately manner as they hunt, in a similar way to the larger herons.Relation to Ancient Egyptian culture
This bird is represented in an
Ancient Egypt ianhieroglyph (Gardiner G29) that had the phonetic value "ba":G29 Its description is often erroneously given as "jabiru ", which is actually this species'Latin America n relative. The Third Dynastypharaoh Khaba incorporated this hieroglyph in his name (Jiménez Serrano 2002).References
* Barlow, Clive (1997): "A field guide to birds of the Gambia and Senegal". Pica Press, Nr. Robertsbridge (East Sussex). ISBN 1-873403-32-1
* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* Jiménez Serrano, Alejandro (2002): Royal Festivals in the Late Predynastic Period and the First Dynasty. "British Archaeological Reports" (International Series) 1076. ISBN 1-84171-455-0
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