Identification
A large white bird with black flight feathers and, in adults, a red bill and legs. It normally flies with its neck extended.
When to look
A migratory breeding bird across much of Europe. Passage flocks and summer nesting birds represent different stages of its annual cycle.
Where to look
Open farmland, grassland and wetlands provide feeding opportunities, while trees and human structures can support nests.
Behaviour and ecology
Food and nutrition
It searches open ground and wet areas for varied animal prey, including insects and small vertebrates. Its food is not limited to frogs.
Breeding and life cycle
Large stick nests may be placed on trees or structures and used repeatedly. Neighbouring feeding habitat is essential for adults raising chicks.
A closer look
Thermal updraughts help migrating storks save energy. Because rising warm air is less reliable over open sea, geography strongly shapes migration routes.
Global conservation assessment
LC · Least Concern
Global category recorded from the linked assessment; it does not describe local abundance. Least Concern does not mean absence of threats.
View the source assessment ↗Observation and photography
Watch nests from established public viewpoints without stopping beneath them. Never encourage chicks to stand or adults to leave for a photograph.
Sources and further reading
Keep a distance that allows birds to feed and rest normally. Do not enter colonies, approach nests, flush roosts or use playback for photographs. Never publish precise nest locations of sensitive species. Follow reserve rules and your guide's advice.