The Black-necked Stork, Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It is a widespread species, which is a resident breeder in southern Asia and Australasia, from India east to New Guinea and the northern half of Australia. In Australia, it is also known as a Jabiru but should not be confused with the similar bird of this name from the Americas, which belongs to a different genus.
Adult female specimen in flight at the McArthur River in the Northern Territory of Australia
Female at Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India.
The Black-necked Stork is a quite large bird, typically 130-150 cm (51-60 inches) tall with a 230 cm (91 inches) wingspan. The average weight is around 4100 grams. It is spectacularly plumaged. The head, neck, wing bar and tail are jet black, with the rest of the plumage white. The massive bill is black and the legs are bright red. Sexes are identical except that the female has a yellow iris, while the male's is brown. Juveniles are mainly light brown with a white belly and dark legs.
Like most storks, the Black-necked Stork flies with the neck outstretched, not retracted like a heron.
The Black-necked Stork breeds in marshes and other wetlands in tropical lowland. It builds a stick nest in trees, laying three to five eggs. It often forms small colonies. The diet consists mainly of fish, frogs and large insects. Young birds, lizards and rodents also taken.
The only stork in Australia, this species is considered as endangered there. The Black-necked Storks are extremely sensitive to environmental changes like water pollution, habitat destruction and human disruption around breeding sites. It is evaluated as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Range
The range of the Black-Necked Stork
It is a widespread species, which is a resident breeder in southern Asia and Australasia, from India east to New Guinea and the northern half of Australia.
Zoos with Black-Necked Stork
Zoo
Male(s)
Female(s)
Unknown
Born in the last year
Total
Miami Metrozoo
1
1
0
0
2
San Antonio Zoological Gardens & Aquarium
1
0
0
0
1
Australia Zoo
2
1
1
0
4
Khao Kheow Open Zoo
8
4
0
1
12
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
1
0
0
0
1
Perth Zoological Gardens
1
1
0
0
2
Taronga Zoo
1
1
0
0
2
Territory Wildlife Park
0
0
2
0
2
Total
15
8
3
1
26
