Storks
White Stork
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Ciconia ciconia
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Voice
Song
Pascal Christe
Call
Sonothèque ADVL
Song
Pascal Christe
How to recognize it
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Large white body with black wing tips, obvious in flight
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Long red legs, long neck, straight red bill
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In flight, neck stretched forward and legs trailing well behind
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Noisy bill-clattering at the nest
About the species
The White Stork has an easy, upright presence, with a strong contrast between its pale body and dark wing tips. Near people, it often looks calm and statuesque until it starts to stride off or breaks into bill-clattering.
Its main sound is a loud rattling of the bill, especially in pair greeting and around the nest. It flies high with its neck stretched forward and legs trailing, then moves on the ground with slow, steady steps before darting quickly at prey.
It prefers low meadows, marshy places, and spots close to human settlements. It feeds on frogs, toads, snakes, large insects, worms, and small mammals, and many populations leave for Africa or India in winter, while some stay in warmer areas year-round.
Where to find
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At shallow pond edges, drainage ditches, and canal banks on the city fringe — walking slowly and snatching frogs, worms, and small fish from the waterline.
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On wet meadows and flooded lawns — especially after rain, when it picks through short grass and suddenly lunges at prey.
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By old nests on rooftops, chimneys, and utility poles — in breeding season, watch for the loud bill-clattering and head-thrown-back greeting display.
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Over open fields and broad vacant lots beyond the built-up area — on warm days it soars with neck stretched out and long legs trailing.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Ciconia ciconia Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — White stork Encyclopedia article