5

Black-necked Stork

(Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus)
: "Satin Stork"; MISNOMER: "Jabiru"

Aboriginal name(s): "korrorook", "monti"
Size: 1.3-1.5 m; wing span 1.9-2.3 m
Weight: 4.1 kg (single measurement)

Description

Classification

Distribution

Sightings

Photos

Breeding

Nest

Eggs

Behaviour

Food

Call/s

Physical description

Click here for physical description of this species Click here for a physical description

Black-necked Storks are very tall black-and-white storks. Their head is glossy-black and the neck is black. The body plumage (breast, belly, back, rump) is white, while the upperwings are black-and-white, with white flight feathers. The tail is black and the greater coverts of the wings are also black, whereas the rest of the underwing is white. The strong bill is long and black, with an upcurved lower mandible. The legs are pink to red. Males have black irises, females yellow ones. Immature Black-necked Storks are mottled dark-grey along the edges of the parts that are white in adults. Juveniles have a brown head and neck and they are mottled brown where adults are black, with a grey bill and grey to yellowish-grey legs.

Taxonomy, classification

See Black-necked Stork at Wikipedia .
Click here for classification information

The Black-necked Storks of Australia and New Guinea, race "australis", are at present considered to be a race of the Asian Black-necked Stork, Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus. Limited DNA work done so far indicates that they may merit to be given species status. The proposed name of the new species, Ephippiorhynchus australis, is 'Satin Stork' (G. Clancy, priv. comm.).

The name "Jabiru", commonly thought to be of Aboriginal origin, is a misnomer derived from the name of the Central and South American Jabiru, Jabiru mycteria (G. Clancy, priv. comm.).

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org .

The global distribution of the Black-necked Stork is available HERE .

In Asia, Black-necked Storks are found in western and northern India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, as well as southern Cambodia and Thailand. In the southern hemisphere, they are present in southern New Guinea and in parts of Australia.

Black-necked Storks, race "australis", 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, at the Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads. Occasionally, Black-necked Storks also make their way into inland NSW from the North.

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

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Race "australis"

The first time we saw a Black-necked Stork, race "australis", was during a visit to the NT in October 1997. A juvenile bird was seen by S.Kirkby near Kakadu NP in June 2011. Since then they are reported regularly to us from various locations in the Top End of the NT.

In August 2014 we found Black-necked Storks, race "australis", in various locations in and around Darwin, NT, e.g. at Fogg Dam CR. One bird was found by the roadside of the Stuart Highway, about 10 km North of Pine Creek, NT, away from water in dry woodland.

Then a single Black-necked Stork, race "australis", was seen by us at the Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, in July 2009. Black-necked Storks were seen by us, and contributors, in the area of Urunga Heads and South West Rocks, in subsequent years.

Black-necked Storks, race "australis", can occasionally be seen in small numbers in wetlands in inland NSW, including the Narrabri, Wee Waa and Moree areas. We have spotted Black-necked Storks, race "australis", in small ephemeral wetlands, and at Yarrie Lake (including the associated swamp). C. Hayne reports that they can be found in the Gwydir Wetlands and sometimes at Whittaker's Lagoon, 20 km West of Moree.

B. Kinross reports spotting Black-necked Storks, race "australis", near Beachmere, QLD, in June 2014.

M. Eaton reports finding Black-necked Storks, race "australis", at Rinyirru (Lakefield) NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, in August 2019.

Various contributors report sightings of Black-necked Storks, race "australis", occasionally in wetlands throughout south-eastern QLD.

M. Mearns found Black-necked Storks, race "australis", at Karumba, QLD, in September 2019.

J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours reports spotting Black-necked Storks, race "australis", at the Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, in August 2020.

Based on an initial report by P. Johnston, in August 2023 we found a pair of Black-necked Storks, race "australis", nesting at Gwydir Wetlands SCA, near Moree, NSW.

Photos

Race "australis"

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ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of an adult Black-necked Stork - the dark irises characterize this bird as a male; note the lilac cap that is not described in field guides (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Mudgeeraba, QLD, November 2015]

Near-frontal view of a male Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, September 2020]

Spectacular near-lateral view of a male Black-necked Stork with its catch (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Near Beachmere, QLD, June 2014]

Close-up lateral portrait of a male Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, August 2020]

Lateral portrait of a male Black-necked Stork being attacked by a horsefly (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Sandy Creek beach, Darwin, NT, November 2018]

Lateral view of a male Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Mudgeeraba, QLD, November 2015]

Lateral view of a resting male Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill, QLD, May 2018]

Lateral view of a male Black-necked Stork hunting in shallow water; click HERE to see a series of photos describing the bird's hunting technique
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, August 2009]

Near-dorsal view of a male Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, September 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a male Black-necked Stork in a partly overgrown farm dam (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Near Moree, NSW, May 2013]

Lateral view of a male Black-necked Stork in flight (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Near Moree, NSW, May 2013]

Male Black-necked Stork gliding in to go hunting
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, August 2009]

Pair of Black-necked Storks demonstrating the difference in size between male, right, and female, left
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Sandy Creek beach, Darwin, NT, November 2018]

"Pas de deux" a la Black-necked Stork - male in front, female behind (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Sandy Creek beach, Darwin, NT, November 2018]

FEMALE

Close-up near-frontal view of a female Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[South West Rocks, NSW, July 2017]

Near-frontal view of a female Black-necked Stork resting on a beach (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point beach, Darwin, NT, August 2017]

Close-up near-lateral view of a female Black-necked Stork; note the yellow irises (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Near Beachmere, QLD, June 2014]

Close-up lateral view of a female Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Kakadu NP, NT, July 2020]

Close-up lateral view of a female Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[South West Rocks, NSW, July 2017]

Lateral view of a female Black-necked Stork; note the pink and grey legs (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Kakadu NP, NT, November 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a female Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill, QLD, May 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a preening female Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill, QLD, May 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a female Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill, QLD, May 2018]

Frontal view of a female Black-necked Stork in low flight (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Kakadu NP, NT, July 2020]

Near-lateral view of a female Black-necked Stork in low, gliding flight (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Near Beachmere, QLD, June 2014]

Near-lateral view of a landing female Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Kakadu NP, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of a female Black-necked Stork flight (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Arnhem Highway near Mary River, NT, August 2018]

Pair of Black-necked Storks on the edge of a billabong (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Kakadu NP, NT, November 2014]

Black-necked Storks on the edge of a sandbank in shallow water
[Yarrie Lake, NSW, March 2014]

Distant view of a soaring adult Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of an immature male Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, August 2020]

Lateral view of an immature Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Arnhem Highway near Humpty Doo, NT, May 2018]

Lateral view of an immature Black-necked Stork, together with various other aquatic bird species (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Arnhem Highway near Humpty Doo, NT, May 2018]

Lateral view of an immature Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of S. Kirkby)
[Kakadu NP, NT, June 2011]

Near-dorsal view of an immature Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of S. Kirkby)
[Kakadu NP, NT, June 2011]

Dorsal view of an immature Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Lateral view of an immature male Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, September 2019]

Close-up lateral view of an immature Black-necked Stork just after takeoff; in this shot one can see the underwing pattern
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, September 2019]

Lateral view of an immature Black-necked Stork just after takeoff; in this shot one can see the upperwing pattern
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, August 2012]

Lateral view of an immature Black-necked Stork in flight; in this shot one can see the underwing pattern
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, August 2012]

Lateral view of an immature Black-necked Stork in flight
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, August 2012]

Near-dorsal view of an immature Black-necked Stork in flight
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, August 2012]

Lateral view of a juvenile Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Near Moree, NSW, October 2013]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Black-necked Stork in flight (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Holmes Jungle NP, Darwin, NT, August 2017]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Mar - May Eggs: 2 - 4 Incubation period: ? Fledging age: 110-115 days

The breeding season listed in the table above is the peak range in the tropical North, where Black-necked Storks can breed most months, possibly all through the year. Farther southward, towards the QLD/NSW border, the peak breeding season lasts from ca. August to November, although the nest shown below had mature chicks in it in early August, which means that they must have hatched in May.

Nest building: Female & male Incubation: Female & male Dependent care: Female & male

Nest
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket Material: Sticks Height above ground: 1? - 20? m

The large, heavy nest will typically be built as high as possible in a tree that can support its weight. However, when no tall trees are available, Black-necked Storks will also nest lower, especially when surrounded by water.

Black-necked Stork nest with one parent bird (right) and two chicks, one of which is stretching its wings
(photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Gwydir Wetlands SCA, NSW, August 2023]

Adult Black-necked Stork on its nest with two chicks
[Gwydir Wetlands SCA, NSW, August 2023]

Both adult Black-necked Storks on the nest with two chicks
[Gwydir Wetlands SCA, NSW, August 2023]

Here both Black-necked Stork chicks have settled again on the nest
[Gwydir Wetlands SCA, NSW, August 2023]

Eggs
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 75 x 53 mm Colour: Coarse-grained white, usually stained grey/brown Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Additional information

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

Food, Diet

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

Spectacular lateral view of an adult male Black-necked Stork with its catch; for details of their hunting technique, click HERE (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Near Beachmere, QLD, June 2014]

Female Black-necked Stork with its prey (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Kakadu NP, NT, July 2020]

Female Black-necked Stork with its prey (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Karumba, QLD, September 2019]

Lateral view of an immature Black-necked Stork trying its luck with a turtle (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Arnhem Highway near Humpty Doo, NT, May 2018]

It appears that Black-necked Storks also take chicks of other bird species; Masked Lapwings certainly don't want them around...
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, August 2012]

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