Marabou Stork Species Profile: Africa's Undertaker Bird

Marabou storks are not conventionally beautiful, but they are striking, and a close look reveals a bird of real character. They walk with a stiff, hunched posture, and from behind the dark wings look like a cloak, hence the nickname undertaker bird.

This profile covers appearance, diet, nesting, urban habits and where to see them.

This guide is part of our animals of Uganda and East Africa guide. When you are ready to plan, see our Uganda safari packages or the Ameera Africa Safaris Uganda tours homepage.

Identification

The marabou is among the largest of the storks. It has a grey-black back and wings, a white underside, a naked pink and grey head with a few sparse hairs, and a thick, long bill. A pink throat pouch hangs from the neck and a white ruff of feathers sits around the base. In flight the neck is tucked back, unlike cranes, and the wings are broad, with a wingspan well over two metres. Young birds have darker heads and smaller pouches.

Diet and Feeding

Marabous eat carrion, scraps, fish, frogs, rodents, insects and the eggs and chicks of other birds. They join vultures at carcasses, using their strong bills to tear flesh that vultures cannot reach. They also follow fires, fishing boats and human settlements for scraps. They stalk along shorelines to catch stranded fish, and large groups may gather at drying pools. A bare head and neck stay cleaner when feeding on carcasses.

Behaviour and Body Features

Marabous soar on thermals, often at great height, with the head drawn in. To cool down, they excrete on their own legs, which are therefore often streaked white. The throat pouch is thought to help with display and possibly temperature control. They stand motionless for long periods and are generally quiet except for bill clattering at the nest.

Nesting and Colonies

Marabou storks nest in colonies in tall trees, building large stick platforms and raising two or three chicks. Kampala is famous for its marabou colonies in city trees, where the birds nest above streets and feed in markets and rubbish dumps. This is a good example of wildlife adapting to a city, though it also brings noise and mess for residents. Colonies are often used for many years.

Threats and Conservation

The marabou stork is not globally threatened and is widespread. Local risks include loss of nesting trees, poisoning and the clearing of colonies in towns. Marabous benefit from rubbish and abattoir waste, but plastic and hazardous waste can harm them. Protecting large nesting trees and good waste management helps both birds and people.

Where to See Marabou Storks

They are common in Uganda's savanna parks and around Kampala and Entebbe, where the Entebbe area and lakeshores are good for sightings. In Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls, they gather at river edges and carcasses. In Kenya and Tanzania, look in the Masai Mara, Serengeti and around Lake Nakuru, where they walk among flamingos and pelicans.

Photography and Related Species

Marabous are patient subjects. Shoot from a vehicle at eye level, and try for portraits showing the throat pouch or flight shots against clouds. See safari photography tips. Related scavengers are covered in the vulture profile, and see the East Africa wildlife guide for more.

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Related Tours, Guides and Resources

• Ameera Africa Safaris homepage: Uganda safaris, tours and holidays
• Uganda safari packages
• Uganda travel guide
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