Storks are big wading birds with long, thick beak that have long legs and lengthy necks. They are members of the Ciconiidae family, which makes up the order Ciconiiformes /skoni.frmiz/. Different families, like as herons and ibises, were originally included in Ciconiiformes, but they have since been transferred to other orders.

Storks are found across the world and prefer drier environments than herons, spoonbills, and ibises; they also lack the powder down that other species employ to clean off fish slime. At the nest, bill-clattering is a key form of communication. A large number of species are migratory. Frogs, fish, insects, earthworms, tiny birds, and small mammals are the main foods of storks. Storks are divided into six genera and include 19 species.

A muster of storks and a phalanx of storks are two phrases that are commonly used to refer to groupings of storks.

Soaring, gliding flight is preferred by storks because it saves energy. Thermal air currents are required for soaring. Otto Lilienthal’s late-nineteenth-century experimental gliders were inspired by Ottomar Anschütz’s renowned 1884 book of stork photos. The marabou stork, with a wingspan of 3.2 m (10 ft) and a weight of up to 8 kg (18 lb), is the heaviest of all extant land birds, with a wingspan of 3.2 m (10 ft) and a weight of up to 8 kg (18 lb).

Their nests are typically quite big and can last for several years. Some nests have been reported to reach a diameter of nearly two metres (six feet) and a depth of over three metres (10 feet). It was long assumed that all storks were monogamous, however this is only partially accurate. After migrations, several animals may swap partners or travel without a mate.

The marabou stork measures 152 cm (60 in) tall and may weigh up to 8.9 kg (20 lb), whereas the Abdim’s stork is just 75 cm (30 in) tall and weighs only 1.3 kg (2.9 lb). Their appearance is similar to that of herons, with long legs and necks, but they are larger and heavier. In certain species (such as the saddle-billed stork), there is considerable sexual dimorphism (differences between men and females) in size, with males being up to 15% larger than females, yet there is practically no difference in appearance. The sole variation between the two Ephippiorhynchus species is the color of their iris.

The bills of storks range in size from big to very enormous, and they differ greatly between species. The nutrition of various animals is connected to the form of their bills. The Ciconia stork’s broad bills are the least specialized. The Ephippiorhynchus and jabiru have larger bills that are somewhat upturned. These fish have adapted to hunt in shallow water. The enormous daggers of the two adjutants and marabou (Leptoptilos), which are used to feast on carrion and defend themselves against other scavengers, as well as to take other prey, are much larger. The sensitive tips on the long, ibis-like downcurved bills of Mycteria storks allow them to identify prey by touch (tactilocation) where overcast circumstances would prevent them from seeing it.

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