The Marabou Stork
The Marabou Stork is a large, odd-looking bird native to Africa. It's really tall, often reaching 5 feet, and has a wingspan of up to 10 feet. Whoa! Its body is covered in white-grey feathers, and its head and neck are nearly bare, with just a bit of fluffy hair. Unusual warty lumps, called wattles, hang from its neck, and it has a long red inflatable air sac at the base of its neck which it uses to impress during courtship. Plus, it has a long pointy beak for scavenging food.

Marabou Stork | |
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Size | Up to 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) tall, (metric: 150 centimeters) |
Weight | Up to 9 kilograms (20 pounds), (metric: 9,000 grams) |
Speed | Speed: 30 mph (48 km/hr) |
Key Strength | Powerful beak and wings |
Biggest Weakness | Slow movement on the ground |
Scientific Name | Leptoptilos crumeniferus |
Family | Ciconiidae |
Habitat | Wetlands, savannas, and grasslands |
Geography | Sub-Saharan Africa |
Diet | Scavenger, eats carrion, fish, and small mammals |
Lifespan | 23 years - 25 years |

The Marabou Stork
The Marabou Stork is a large, odd-looking bird native to Africa. It's really tall, often reaching 5 feet, and has a wingspan of up to 10 feet. Whoa! Its body is covered in white-grey feathers, and its head and neck are nearly bare, with just a bit of fluffy hair. Unusual warty lumps, called wattles, hang from its neck, and it has a long red inflatable air sac at the base of its neck which it uses to impress during courtship. Plus, it has a long pointy beak for scavenging food.
Fun Fact: Marabou Storks often share their meals with Hyenas, talk about nature's unique buddies!
Marabou Stork | |
---|---|
Size | Up to 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) tall, (metric: 150 centimeters) |
Weight | Up to 9 kilograms (20 pounds), (metric: 9,000 grams) |
Speed | Speed: 30 mph (48 km/hr) |
Key Strength | Powerful beak and wings |
Biggest Weakness | Slow movement on the ground |
Scientific Name | Leptoptilos crumeniferus |
Family | Ciconiidae |
Habitat | Wetlands, savannas, and grasslands |
Geography | Sub-Saharan Africa |
Diet | Scavenger, eats carrion, fish, and small mammals |
Lifespan | 23 years - 25 years |
Marabou Stork Matchups
We use AI to simulate matchups between the Marabou Stork and other animals. Our simulation considers size, strength, and natural predatory behaviors to determine the most likely outcome.
Fun Fact: These birds can eat just about anything, from insects and fish, to rodents and even other birds. They're not picky eaters!
Fun Fact: Though Marabou Storks don't have the smoothest voices and make a rather crude croaking sound, they are quite the experts when it comes to non-verbal communication, like clattering their bills to say hello!