Everglades National Park Birding Tour: Wood Stork

Wood storks are basically gangly and unattractive. Their parts, while efficent, don't seem to go together. They are very large with wingspans as wide as 5 feet. They have no feathers on their head and neck - like a buzzard, which is why they have also been called "Ironheads" by the old-timers. They are very quiet birds. Occasionally you will hear one make a strange croak. They can often be seen in groups high overhead - gliding without needing to take many wingbeats and that's a good thing because when they do flap their wings they are gangly looking. They feed by sweeping their beaks in shallow water and snap their beaks quickly shut when they find a crab, bait fish or just about anything else. Their numbers have been on the increase in Everglades National Park - which indicates the park is pretty healthy. They are the only stork native to North America.

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