Abdim’s Stork

Ciconia abdimii

RANGE:east Africa, from Ethiopia to South Africa

STATUS:locally abundant

HABITAT:grasslands, pastures, cultivated fields

DIET: CARNIVOREprimarily insects; also small reptiles, amphibians, and fish, water rats, young birds

ACTIVE:diurnal

LIFESPAN:Captive: 20 years
Wild: 20 years

OFFSPRING:1-5 eggs per clutch

LENGTH:80 cm (36 in)

WEIGHT:1.3 kg (2.8 lbs)

The Abdim’s stork, also known as the white-bellied stork, is the smallest of all storks but still a very large bird.

“Where I live”

Abdim’s storks live in east Africa, from Ethiopia to South Africa. They are found in open grasslands, pastures, and savannah woodlands, usually near water.

“How I live there”

Abdim’s storks migrate seasonally within their home range, crossing the equator to coincide with rainfall. They are loud and social birds that live in groups of at least 10 and sometimes in flocks that number in the thousands! They roost in trees and on cliffs. Like all storks, they are long-legged wading birds that get much of their food from the water, but Abdim’s storks also eat plenty of insects. They eat locusts, caterpillars, grasshoppers, crickets, and other large insects, and will also hunt and eat mice, frogs, lizards, small fish, mollusks, crabs, millipedes, scorpions, water rats, and small birds. They often hunt together in large flocks, particularly in the vicinity of grass fires and locust swarms.

“Making my mark”

Abdim’s storks are protected and generally welcomed throughout their home range because of local belief that they are harbingers of rain and good luck.

“What eats me”

Presumably all species of African stork, including Abdim’s, are vulnerable to predators, although there is little source material that specifically discusses this. Large eagles and vultures may prey upon storks, and people continue to hunt them.

Raising Young

Abdim’s storks breed in colonies. They build large nests in trees, on cliffs, and on the roofs of village huts. The same nests will be used from year to year until they collapse, although not necessarily by the same nesting pair. Females lay 2-3 eggs per clutch. The parents take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks once they’ve hatched.