what type of bird is a stork

Systematics editSee also:

The Pelecaniformes family includes the families Ardeidae, Balaenicipitidae, Scopidae, and Threskiornithidae, according to a DNA study. This would make Ciconiidae the only group. [11][12].

Storks were distinct and possibly widespread by the Oligocene. Storks appear to have originated in the Palaeogene, perhaps 40–50 million years ago (mya), like most families of aquatic birds. See the genus articles for the fossil record of extant genera, which has been recorded since the Middle Miocene (roughly 15 mya), at least in some cases.

There is no record of a stork species or subspecies going extinct in the past. After a thorough review of the literature, nearly 1,000 papers on storks were found. However, the majority of stork species were found to lack scientific knowledge, which suggests that many of them should be listed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List. There is no record of storks being present on the Mascarene Islands, however a Ciconia bone discovered in a rock shelter on the island of Réunion was most likely from a bird that early settlers took there for food.

In culture edit Storks feature in several of

Many ancient mythologies feature stories and legends involving storks. During the Old Kingdom, saddle-billed storks were utilized to symbolize the ba, the Ancient Egyptian concept of the soul, and were regarded as some of the most powerful animals in Egypt. [47] A stork might have also served as the inspiration for Bennu, the Egyptian deity who later served as the model for the phoenix; however, it is more likely that an ibis or heron did. Muslims have historically held storks in high regard as well because they made the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca during their migration. [50].

Storks are portrayed in Greek and Roman mythology as symbols of devoted parents. In his book De natura animalium (book 3, chapter 23), the third-century Roman author Aelian wrote, quoting Alexander of Myndus, that old storks flew off to oceanic islands where, in exchange for their devotion to their parents, they were changed into humans. In addition, storks were believed to provide for their elderly parents by feeding and even carrying them, and children’s literature portrayed them as exemplars of filial piety. Greek law, known as Pelargonia (derived from the word pelargos, which means stork), mandated that citizens look after their elderly parents. The Greeks also believed that killing a stork could result in death [citation needed]. [52].

What Do Storks Eat?

Even though their prey is relatively small, these birds typically consume whatever is nearby. Frogs and toads, fish, rodents, earthworms, mollusks and crustaceans, insects, and tadpoles make up the majority of their diet. They occasionally prey on other birds’ eggs or young chicks.

FAQ

Is a stork a type of heron?

Herons are freshwater and coastal birds belonging to the family Ardeidae, while storks are wading birds that belong to the family Ciconiidae. Heron and stork populations are well-distributed across the world, with the exception of the Arctic regions where living conditions are extreme.

What makes a bird a stork?

The Four Keys to ID. Wood Storks are hefty wading birds with football-shaped bodies perched atop long legs. They have a long neck and a long, thick bill that is curved at the tip. They fly with their neck and legs outstretched but tend to perch with the neck drawn in, giving them a humpbacked appearance.

What is another name for a stork bird?

Most species in the family are called storks, although some have different common names: two species in the genus Anastomus are known as openbills, two from the genus Leptoptilos are called adjutants, and three species are called jabiru.

What kind of bird looks like a stork?

Ciconiiform (order Ciconiiformes), any member of the five or six families of stork-like birds: herons and bitterns, storks and wood storks, ibis and spoonbills.