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Classification

• Order: Ciconiiformes
• Family: Ciconiidés
• Genus: Ciconia
• Species: nigra

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descriptor

• Linnaeus, 1758

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biometrics

• Size: 100 cm
• Wingspan: 144 to 155 cm
• Weight:

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Distribution

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bird song

Find out more about the bird song

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IUCN CONSERVATION STaTUS

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IDENTIFICATION

Wading bird living near freshwater. Slightly smaller than the White Stork, it can be distinguished from the latter by its predominantly black colour, with the exception of the lower chest and belly. Long legs, long neck and very elongated beak. Slender body. Similar sexes.

HABITAT

The black stork breeds in lowlands or at medium altitude, in forests with streams, backwaters and marshes, and also in flooded plains and forests or dense groves of beech, oak or pine, and in ancient mountain ranges. It likes marshes, wet meadows and reedbeds.

Threat – protection

The European population is around 500 couples. The biggest threats they face are the transformation of nesting habitats and disturbance at nesting, feeding and pre- and post-nuptial concentration sites, as well as extractions and collisions with power lines.