Real storks

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Real storks
Black stork (Ciconia nigra)

Black stork ( Ciconia nigra )

Systematics
Row : Land vertebrates (Tetrapoda)
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Ciconiiformes
Family : Storks
Genre : Real storks
Scientific name
Ciconia
Brisson , 1760
White stork on the nest
Abdim stork

Actual storks ( Ciconia ) form the largest genus within the family of storks (Ciconiidae) with seven species . They are found in South America, Africa, Europe and Asia. With the white stork and the black stork , this genus also includes the two only stork species that breed in Central Europe .

The most endangered species within the genus are the black-billed stork , of which there are only fewer than 3000 individuals, and the humpback stork , of which only a maximum of 500 sexually mature individuals exist.

features

The approximately 100 cm tall storks have a wingspan of 180 cm and a long, thick beak. The plumage of the individual species varies more than that of the other genera. You fly with your neck stretched out. The diet includes frogs, insects, young birds, lizards and rodents.

Actual storks are for the most part sociable birds that breed in colonies . Except for the Maguaristorch ( Ciconia maguari ), which breeds as a single brooder on the ground, all species build their nests on trees, rocks, roofs, chimneys and power poles. Three species also tolerate close proximity to humans. On the other hand, the black stork, which is also a single breeder, is a shy cultivator who reacts very sensitively to disturbances in its breeding area and usually breeds in closed old forests with ponds and ponds.

The habitat of the real storks are bank regions of rivers and lakes, wetlands, richly structured forest areas, but also steppes and cultural landscapes. The storks widespread in tropical regions are predominantly resident birds. Black and white storks, on the other hand, usually migrate to far-flung wintering areas. The Abdim stork, on the other hand, moves to southern Africa after its breeding season in central Africa.

Species and their respective distribution area

The following species are counted among the real storks:

  • Abdim stork ( C. abdimii ), central Africa and, outside the breeding season, southern Africa
  • Black- billed stork ( C. boyciana ). It differs from the white stork only in its black beak, the plumage color otherwise corresponds to the white stork. Its distribution area ranges from southeast Siberia to northeast China. Japan and Korea were originally also part of its range, but it has now become extinct there.
  • White stork ( C. ciconia ). Scattered across Europe, Asia and North Africa.
  • Woolly necked stork ( C. episcopus ). Distribution area extends from Africa through South Asia to the Philippines, is mostly to be found at the edges of forests.
  • Maguaristorch ( C. maguari ). Found in large parts of South America from Guyana to Argentina.
  • Black stork ( C. nigra ). Distribution area extends from western Central Europe to the Asian Pacific coast. Shy inhabitants of water-rich deciduous and mixed forests
  • Hump ​​stork ( C. stormi ). With a body length of 85 centimeters, the stork stork is the smallest species of the real storks. Its distribution area is Indonesia and Malaysia.

literature

Web links

Commons : Actual storks ( Ciconia )  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

Single receipts

  1. ↑ Ciconia boyciana in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2008. Accessed September 18 2016th
  2. ↑ Ciconia stormi in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2012. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2012. Accessed September 18 2016th
  3. ↑ W. Grummt, H. Strehlow (Ed.): Zoo animal keeping birds . Verlag Harri Deutsch, Frankfurt am Main 2009, ISBN 978-3-8171-1636-2 . P. 98.
  4. ↑ W. Grummt, H. Strehlow (Ed.): Zoo animal keeping birds . Verlag Harri Deutsch, Frankfurt am Main 2009, ISBN 978-3-8171-1636-2 . S 97 and 98