This photo was taken in Wissel Zoo in Epe, The Netherlands.
Canon PowerShot S5 IS
The Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It breeds in Africa south of the Sahara, occurring in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially waste tips. It is sometimes called the “undertaker bird,” due to its shape from behind: cloak-like wings and back, skinny white legs, and sometimes, a large white mass of “hair.”
A massive bird, large specimens are thought to reach a height of 150 cm (60 in), a weight of over 9 kg (20 lbs) and have a wingspan of at least 3.2 m (10.5 ft). In the last regard, it shares the distinction of having the largest wingspan of any landbird with the Andean Condor. More typically, these birds measure 110-140 cm (43-55 in), 225-287 cm (89-113 in) across the wings, and weigh 4.5-8 kg (10-18 lbs). Unlike most storks, the three Leptoptilos species fly with the neck retracted like a heron.
The Marabou Stork is a frequent scavenger, and the naked head and neck are adaptations to this, as it is with the vultures with which the stork often feeds. In both cases, a feathered head would become rapidly clotted with blood and other substances when the bird’s head was inside a large corpse, and the bare head is easier to keep clean.
Source: Wikpedia


bird, animal, zoo, stork, netherlands, gili, marabou, crumeniferus, leptoptilos, orr, wissel, dierenpark
Comments
Great Catch, Gili!
Thanks, Rabi!!
– Gili Orr
Awesome!
Thanks so much, Thea! I appreciate the fav a lot…
– Gili Orr
Great capture !
Thanks, Sylvia!!x
– Gili Orr
Nice capture Gili
Thanks, Anthony!
– Gili Orr
Splendid capture, hope he found it !!!
LMAO. Thanks, Mark!!
– Gili Orr
Lovely shot
Thanks again, Squealia!:-)
– Gili Orr
Yep, and not only that one …lol
Oops… you see too well;-)
– Gili Orr
Excellent capture, Gili
Thanks a lot, BigD!
– Gili Orr
fantastic shot Gili
Thanks so much, Kathy!
– Gili Orr