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Storks

Storks are a group of large wading birds with long legs, necks, and stout bills, classified under the family Ciconiidae and order Ciconiiformes, consisting of 19 living species across six genera. While they inhabit a variety of regions, they favor drier environments over the more aquatic herons, spoonbills, and ibises, and are known for their bill-clattering communication and migratory habits. Their diet is diverse, including frogs, fish, insects, earthworms, small birds, and mammals. Group names for storks include a muster or a phalanx. These birds are notable for their soaring flight that conserves energy, and some, like the marabou stork, rank among the land birds with the widest wingspan. Storks build large nests, often reused annually, and show a degree of monogamy; some may change mates seasonally or migrate alone. Their size, nesting loyalty, and prominence in many mythologies and cultures make them significant symbols across the world. Although all stork species have been assessed for conservation status, gaps in knowledge about their habits suggest further research is needed. Storks vary in size from the smaller Abdim's stork to the towering marabou, with some dimorphism present in the sexes. Their bill shapes are highly adapted to their diets, from the generalist Ciconia to the snail-specialist openbills. Contrary to some reports, storks do have a syrinx and can make sounds, though not commonly. Storks are nearly cosmopolitan in distribution, absent from polar regions, most of North America, and parts of Australia, with diversity hotspots in tropical Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. They adapt to a range of habitats, from wetlands to savannahs, and show varying degrees of migration, with some species undertaking long journeys to avoid winter. In terms of behavior, storks are carnivorous, hunting a spectrum of animals, with methods adapted to their environment and prey. Breeding behaviors vary from solitary to colonial, and while some nest alone, others form large communities with different waterbird species. Stork taxonomy indicates that their family is the sole group within their order, with a fossil record stretching back to the Oligocene, approximately 30-40 million years ago. Current comprehension of storks is limited, and more data is needed for accurate conservation assessments. The etymology of the word "stork" is tied to Proto-Germanic, ancient Greek, and other language families, each denoting specific attributes or mythologies of these birds. In folklore and literature, storks are often associated with delivering babies and feature in various tales that highlight their characteristics and cultural significance.

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Albatrosses
Anhingas, Darters
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Shrikes
Shriketit
Sittellas
Skuas
Starlings, Rhabdornis
Stilts, Avocets
Stone-curlews, Thick-knees

Storks

Sunbirds
Swallows, Martins
Swifts
Thrushes
Tits, Chickadees
Treeswifts
Tropicbirds
Typical Broadbills
Vangas & Allies
Vireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblers
Wagtails, Pipits
Waxbills, Munias & Allies
Whipbirds
Whistlers & Allies
White-eyes
Woodpeckers
Woodswallows, Butcherbirds & Allies
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Species Categories

AlbatrossesAnhingas, DartersAsian BarbetsAustral Storm PetrelsAustralasian BabblersAustralasian RobinsAustralasian TreecreepersAustralasian WarblersAustralasian WrensAustralian MudnestersAustralo-Papuan BellbirdsBarn OwlsBee-eatersBerrypeckers, LongbillsBirds-of-paradiseBoatbillsBowerbirdsBristlebirdsBulbulsBuntingsBustardsButtonquailCaracaras, FalconsCassowaries, EmuCettia Bush Warblers & AlliesChats, Old World FlycatchersCisticolas & AlliesCockatoosCormorants, ShagsCoursers, PratincolesCranesCrows, JaysCuckoosCuckooshrikesDrongosDucks, Geese, SwansFairy FlycatchersFairy-bluebirdsFantailsFigbirds, Orioles, TurnagraFinches, EuphoniasFlamingosFlowerpeckersFlufftailsFrigatebirdsFrogmouthsGannets, BoobiesGrassbirds & AlliesGrebesGuineafowlGulls, Terns, SkimmersHerons, BitternsHoneyeatersHoopoesHornbillsIbises, SpoonbillsIfritJacanasJewel-babblers, Quail-thrushesKingfishersKites, Hawks, EaglesLarksLeaf Warblers & AlliesLogrunnersLyrebirdsMagpie GooseMegapodesMelampittasMonarchsMottled BerryhunterNew World QuailNightjarsNorthern Storm PetrelsOld World ParrotsOld World Sparrows, SnowfinchesOspreysOstrichesOwlet-nightjarsOwlsOystercatchersPainted BerrypeckersPainted-snipesPardalotesPelicansPenguinsPetrels, Shearwaters, Diving PetrelsPheasants & AlliesPigeons, DovesPittasPlains-wandererPloughbillPloversRails, Crakes & CootsReed Warblers & AlliesRollersSandpipers, SnipesSatinbirdsScrubbirdsShrikesShriketitSittellasSkuasStarlings, RhabdornisStilts, AvocetsStone-curlews, Thick-kneesStorksSunbirdsSwallows, MartinsSwiftsThrushesTits, ChickadeesTreeswiftsTropicbirdsTypical BroadbillsVangas & AlliesVireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblersWagtails, PipitsWaxbills, Munias & AlliesWhipbirdsWhistlers & AlliesWhite-eyesWoodpeckersWoodswallows, Butcherbirds & Allies

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What Our Birders Say
Nick S
Work together with community
Been loving using this app to log my bird sightings and work together with community members to identify different birds. I've already learned a lot since I started about a month ago!
Trevarthen1
Birda fan
I really enjoy using Birda, all sightings are recorded and photos can be added. There are monthly challenges which help to get you out to record your sightings. The Birda community are great and are happy to help with unidentified bird sightings. Suitable for all ages and experience!
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I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
Carl B
Helped me to identify more birds
Love this app and has helped me to identify more birds. The challenges and badges are great for keeping the motivation going to get out and keep birding.
Erna M
I really like Birda
I really like Birda. I also use other birding apps and have Birda with E-bird going at the same time.
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
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A Friendly Place
I love using the bird app, I have a pretty good knowledge of birds. But I do have some gaps in it, so it’s nice to have a safe space to check on a sighting to confirm the species. It’s really enjoyable and I love the badges you can collect. It’s like a real life Pokémon go.
SuperOliviaGirl
Really great app
It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.
Hip An
Fantastic
Really enjoying Birda where I live i have a lot of Red kites really hard to photograph but I can video are you planning some place on the app where us Birda can post vids🦉🦅
Dan R
Great app for bird fanatics
Great app for bird fanatics - very user friendly and a perfect place to share sightings.
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