Black Stork
Photo: Chris Eason · CC BY 2.0

Storks

Black Stork

Ciconia nigra

LCLeast Concern
Family
Storks (Ciconiidae)
Order
Ciconiiformes

Overview

The black stork (Ciconia nigra) is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae. Measuring on average 95 to 100 cm (37 to 39 in) from beak tip to end of tail with a 145-to-155 cm (57-to-61 in) wingspan, the adult black stork has mainly black plumage, with white underparts, long red legs and a long pointed red beak. A widespread but uncommon species, it breeds in scattered locations across Europe (predominantly in Portugal and Spain, and central and eastern parts), and east across the Palearctic to the Pacific Ocean.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to see it

Destination guides featuring this bird

Range and habitat

Central and southern Eurasia; southern Africa; winters to central Africa and India.

Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.