Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Maguari Stork (Ciconia maguari)
Maguari Stork

Maguari Stork

Ciconia maguari

The Maguari stork (Ciconia maguari) is a majestic bird, slightly larger than its relative, the white stork. It is the sole representative of its genus in the New World, sharing the skies with only two other stork species in the Americas: the wood stork and the jabiru. Standing tall at 97 to 120 cm with a wingspan of 155 to 180 cm, this stork is an impressive sight, particularly in flight.

Identification Tips

Adult Maguari storks are predominantly white with black flight feathers and a distinctive forked black tail. The tail is shorter than the stiff white under-tail coverts, which protrude beneath and may aid in flight. The bill is bluish-grey with a dark maroon tip, and the legs are purplish red. The iris is a striking lemon-yellow or cream white, and the throat skin is a vibrant orangey red, deepening during courtship. Males are slightly larger and may have a subtly upward curved bill.

Juvenile Maguari storks initially sport snowy white down, which is replaced by dark plumage during their first few days. This dark coloration may serve as camouflage or aid in thermoregulation. As they mature, juveniles molt into a white plumage similar to adults, but can be distinguished by their dark iris, which lightens with age.

Habitat

The Maguari stork inhabits open lowland wetlands, including tropical wet savannah grasslands, marshes, mudflats, and flooded fields. It avoids forested areas and can occasionally be found in dry fields and cultivated lands.

Distribution

This stork's range spans much of South America, primarily to the east of the Andes. It is found in Venezuela, eastern Colombia, Guyana, eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. It is a rare visitor to the Suriname coast and has been reported as a vagrant in Trinidad and Tobago.

Behaviour

The Maguari stork is a solitary or colonial nester, with ground nests near shallow water. It is a generalist feeder, preying on a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial animals. This stork forages in shallow waters, walking slowly with its bill near the surface, ready to seize prey. It may also forage on dry land, searching for invertebrates and small mammals.

Song & Calls

Adults produce wheezing, hissing, disyllabic whistles during greeting displays at the nest. These vocalizations are slower and lower pitched than those of other storks. Young make begging calls described as "Ehehe-ehehe."

Breeding

Breeding is synchronized with the onset of the wet season. The Maguari stork nests on the ground or occasionally in low trees. Clutch size is typically 3-4 eggs, with incubation lasting 29-32 days. Nestlings develop defensive behavior at three weeks old, a unique trait among storks.

Similar Species

The Maguari stork can be confused with the white stork but is distinguished by its forked black tail and the coloration of its bill and legs.

Diet and Feeding

The diet includes fish, frogs, eels, earthworms, invertebrates, snakes, small mammals, and bird eggs. It forages in shallow waters and occasionally on dry land, displaying a broad diet compared to other storks.

Conservation Status

The Maguari stork is classified as Least Concern due to its large range and stable population. However, habitat destruction and hunting pose threats, and closer global population monitoring is recommended to safeguard its future.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Maguari Storks on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Storks

A photo of a African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus)

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Carrie
Makes you want to spot birds more
I think this app is fun. It makes you want to spot birds more so I guess in a way it encourages you to get out and about instead of sitting in front of the TV.
JCBirding
Just what birding needs
We need more fun in birding, for years it has had a reputation for being up tight and stuffy and only perused by retirees and anoraks. Birda helps change that perception and firmly brings birding into the 21st century! Fun, interactive while still contributing to science and conservation. If you aren’t on it, why not??
Robred 2
Fun way to add to your birdwatching experience
I enjoy watching birds in my backyard, but this app helped me really pay attention while on vacation this summer. It was fun to add new birds to my bird watching app.
Unbridled Discoveries
Great app for bird lovers
I love this app! It’s a wonderful way to track birding sessions, and also connect you with fellow birders. I also really like the unidentified bird section, it’s a great community tool to help figure out what a never-before-seen bird is!
Pdydhdrexgi
Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
Birdafan
Ideal Birdwatch Companion
Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.
Marlster24
Recommend for any bird watcher
Very wholesome app: I joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😃
Marlster24
Very Wholesome App
Joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😄
Foxgirl100
Great app for beginner twitchers
I’ve had a passion of photographing birds for a long time now but have only just gotten into proper birdwatching, and this app is brilliant for those just getting started. There is a great sense of community among users and the app is very easy to use and professional. Awesome app altogether
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.