Wood Stork

The wood stork, Mycteria americana, is a majestic wading bird of considerable size, with adults standing between 83 to 115 cm tall and boasting a wingspan of 140 to 180 cm. The plumage is predominantly white, save for the black tail and wing feathers which exhibit a greenish-purplish iridescence. Notably, the head and neck are devoid of feathers and are a stark dark grey, while the bill is long, wide at the base, and curves downward in a distinctive manner. The legs and feet are dark, with toes that blush pink during the breeding season. Juveniles can be distinguished by their feathered heads and yellow bills.

Identification Tips

When identifying the wood stork, look for its large size, white body with black flight feathers, and its bare, dark grey head and neck. The bill is notably hefty and decurved. In flight, the wood stork extends its neck and trails its legs behind, a posture that is quite characteristic of the species.

Habitat

The wood stork thrives in a variety of wetland habitats within tropical and subtropical climates. These include freshwater marshes and estuarine mangrove forests, where water levels fluctuate, triggering the breeding season.

Distribution

This bird has a broad range across the Americas. In South America, it is a resident species, while in North America, it may disperse as far as Florida. The wood stork is the only stork species that breeds in North America, with small populations in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

Behaviour

Wood storks are colonial nesters, often building their large stick nests in trees such as mangroves or Taxodium species, typically over or surrounded by water. They exhibit a remarkable adaptability to varying water levels, which plays a crucial role in their breeding and feeding habits.

Song & Calls

The vocalizations of wood stork chicks can be heard as a series of gentle clucks and croaks, particularly audible within the bustling colonies during the breeding season.

Breeding

Breeding season is initiated by falling water levels, which concentrate fish populations and thus provide ample food for the growing chicks. Wood storks lay a single clutch of three to five cream-colored eggs, which are incubated for about 30 days. Chicks are altricial, requiring extensive parental care, and fledge after 60 to 65 days.

Similar Species

While sometimes confused with ibises due to its bare head, the wood stork can be differentiated by its larger size, white plumage with black flight feathers, and its distinctive bill shape.

Diet and Feeding

The wood stork's diet varies seasonally, consisting primarily of fish and insects during the dry season, with the addition of frogs and crabs during the wet season. They forage by touch in shallow waters, a technique that is facilitated by the seasonal drop in water levels.

Conservation status

Globally, the wood stork is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, thanks to its extensive range. However, in the United States, it is considered a threatened species, primarily due to habitat alteration and changes in water management practices, such as those in the Everglades which have affected the timing of breeding and reduced breeding success.