The saddle-billed stork; saddle bill is a large wading bird in the stork family. It is a widespread species which is a resident breeder in sub-Saharan Africa from Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya south to South Africa, and in The Gambia, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Chad in West Africa.
The saddle-billed stork or saddle bill is a colorful stork of tropical Africa. More than 120 cm (4 feet) tall, its legs and neck are exceptionally long and thin. The slightly upturned bill is red, crossed by a broad black band surmounted in front of the eyes by a small yellow plate
We stamp each with a serial number under the flap generally on the near side of the saddle, which helps us locate information specific to that saddle such as: Model, Size, Color, Fit (at time of Manufacture), Any Other Specifications and also the Date it was made and sold.
The male has dark-brown eyes, and the female has yellow eyes. In flight, the bird’s massive size, and the dark bands in the center of the white wings are diagnostic. Scarce but conspicuous; mostly resident but can be partially nomadic in parts of the range.
Incubation begins as soon as the first egg is laid, and therefore eggs hatch asynchronously. Both parents feed their young by regurgitating worms and insects at the bottom of the nest. The baby storks grow quickly: at 10 weeks, they begin to fly and then gradually leave the nest.
Few animals threaten adult white storks, but eggs and nestlings are vulnerable to a variety of nest predators, including hawks, eagles, genets and monitor lizards. These birds are hunted by humans for food and for sport, especially while migrating.
Average lifespan in the wild: 22 years. Average lifespan in captivity 35 years.
