Black-necked stork

Description

The black-necked stork is a large bird,129–150 cm (51–59 in) tall having a 230-centimetre (91 in) wingspan.The average weight is around 4,100 grams (145 oz).The plumage patterns are conspicuous with younger birds differing from adults.Adults have a glossy bluish-black iridescent head,neck,secondary flight feathers and tail;a coppery-brown crown;a bright white back and belly;bill black with a slightly concave upper edge;and bright red legs.The sexes are identical but the adult female has a yellow iris while the adult male has it brown.Juveniles younger than six months have a brownish iris;a distinctly smaller and straighter beak;a fluffy appearance;brown head,neck,upper back,wings and tail;a white belly;and dark legs.Juveniles older than six months have a mottled appearance especially on the head and neck where the iridescence is partly developed;dark-brown outer primaries;white inner primaries that forms a shoulder patch when the wings are closed;a heavy beak identical in size to adults but still straighter;and dark to pale-pink legs.Like most storks,the black-necked stork flies with the neck outstretched,not retracted like a heron.In flight it appears spindly and a black bar running through the white wings (the somewhat similar looking migratory black stork has an all black wing with black neck and tail make it distinctive.