All About the Saddle-Billed Stork

One of the more fascinating creatures you can come across when on your Kruger Park safari is the Saddle-Billed Stork.

Saddle-Billed Storks are truly the giants of the stork family.  An adult can stand about 150cm tall and have an impressive wingspan of 2.7 meters.  These Storks are identifiable by their distinctive black and white contrasting plumage and bright yellow lappet which is a saddle-like structure attached to its bill. Female Saddle-Billed Storks are about 10% smaller than the males and the way to tell them apart is by their eyes.  Males have dark brown eyes where females have yellow eyes.

Saddle-Billed Storks are endangered in South Africa.  Since these birds need an extensive wetland habitat and are slow breeders it is a rare see in the Kruger National Park.  They are territorial and are known to remain in the same area for years along riverine areas.

Saddle-Billed Storks have to be seen and not heard as they are mute except for the bill clacking sound at their nests.  This is because Saddle-Billed Storks do not have a “syrinx” the vocal organ that other birds have that make it possible for them to sing, whistle or chirp.  In order for chicks to get their parents attention, they make a kind of hissing sound.  

The Saddle-Billed Stork is a solitary bird and although they can be found in a group of up to ten, it’s rare, mostly they are alone or with their partner.  They are monogamous and form permanent bonds with their partner and will use the same nest every breeding season.  There is therefore not a showy courtship display.  Once the rainy season has ended the breeding season starts. 

Both partners will help maintain the nest and repairs are done at the start of the breeding season.  These nests can be found in tall trees close to water and their food source.  Sticks are used to build the exterior which has a large flat bottom just deep enough to hold the eggs.  Interior walls have a plastering of mud and a lining of softer materials such as grass.  Every time they breed they lay 2-3 eggs and incubate the eggs for about 35 days.  Incubating the eggs is done by both parents taking a turn.  Chicks hatch with white downy feathers.  Rearing and feeding the chicks are done by both parenting and can last for 100 days.  Juvenile storks stay close to their parents for up to two years and in that time the parents will not breed again.  Saddle-Billed Storks do not breed every year.   

Saddle-Billed Storks are carnivores and have a diet consisting of fish, crustaceans and amphibians.  They also eat small reptiles and small mammals and water beetles. 

Adult Saddle-Billed Storks are not preyed upon, but their chicks are.  But this is not why they are on the endangered species list.  Human population is encroaching on their wetlands.  Wetlands are also damaged by excessive use of pesticides.  Saddle billed are not migratory birds but will move when their habitat is no longer habitable.