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Black-necked Stork

(Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus)
Alternative name: "jabiru" [aboriginal]
Other aboriginal names: "korrorook", "monti"
Size: 1.1-1.3 m; wing span 1.9-2.2 m

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Black-necked Storks are found in the tropical north of Australia, including parts of the north-west coast of WA, and the eastern part of QLD. Their range extends southward along the east coast of NSW, to about Urunga Heads.

Black-necked Storks can be found in the shallows of rivers and billabongs, but also in swamps and tidal flats.

Sightings

The first time we saw a Black-necked Stork was during a visit to the Northern Territory in 1997.

Then seen by us at Urunga Heads, NSW, from the Urunga boardwalk, in July 2009.

Photos

Lateral view of an adult male Black-necked Stork

Black-necked Stork gliding in to go hunting

Photo of an adult female Black-necked Stork ("Jabiru") in captivity

Behaviour

Additional information

We have observed the hunting technique of a Black-necked Stork, which is quite different to that of Herons and Egrets. There is a separate page with a detailed description.

Food

Black-necked Storks have a varied diet similar to that of egrets and herons. They prey on fish, frogs, crustaceans and snakes.

Here a bird that has caught a fish

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.