|
Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus
Marabu/ Maraboustork
Facts: Weight: 4–8.9 kg
Height: 115–152 cm
Habitat: Tropical Africa. Lives on savannahs, in marshy areas and along rivers and lakes.
Sexual maturity: 4 years
Incubation period: 29–31 days
Number of eggs per clutch: 1–4, usually 2–3
Food: Carrion, fish, termites, frogs, rats, mice, snakes, birds – as big as juvenile flamingos
Life expectancy: 25 years in the wild, 41 years in captivity.
|
 |
The marabou stork is distinguished by a massive pointed beak, an almost featherless head, a pouch of skin hanging from its neck and its impressive size. In spite of this sharp beak, the marabou stork’s carrion-flaying talents are limited, so it often steals food from other scavengers, such as vultures.
Marabous also live near people, where they scavenge for fish offal and other waste. They sometimes live near herds of mammals that put insects to flight as they move.
|
