Storks are large, long-legged wading birds that can be found across many parts of the United States. Here is an overview of the different species of storks found in the US and where they can be spotted:
Wood Stork
The wood stork is the only stork species that breeds in the continental United States. It is found predominantly in the southeastern states:
- Florida – Largest breeding population
- Georgia
- South Carolina
- North Carolina – Small breeding colonies
- Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana – Irregular breeding
Wood storks inhabit freshwater and brackish wetlands like marshes, swamps, lagoons and ponds. They nest colonially in trees surrounded by water.
Jabiru
The jabiru is a large stork species found in Central and South America. In the US, jabirus occasionally wander into southern Texas but do not breed there.
Some key areas where vagrant jabirus have been sighted in Texas include:
- Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge
- Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
- Lower Rio Grande Valley
- Coastal prairies near Houston
Maguari Stork
Like the jabiru, the maguari stork’s range extends from Central to South America. It is an extremely rare vagrant to the United States, with sightings mostly limited to southern Texas.
Marabou Stork
The marabou stork is an Old World species found widely across Africa. There are a few recorded instances of vagrant marabou storks reaching the United States:
- Individuals spotted in Florida and Texas, likely having crossed the Atlantic from Africa.
European White Stork
As the name suggests, the European white stork is found across Europe during summer. It migrates down to Africa for the winter. On very rare occasions, individual white storks may get blown off course across the Atlantic and appear in the eastern US as vagrants.
Conclusion
In summary:
- The wood stork is the only stork endemic to the US, breeding in the southeastern wetlands.
- Jabiru, maguari and marabou storks are tropical species that may appear as rare vagrants in Texas and Florida after crossing from Central/South America or Africa.
- The European white stork has been sighted as an extremely rare vagrant in eastern US.
- No other stork species regularly occur in the wild in the United States.
Range Maps of Stork Species in USA
Wood Stork
The wood stork is found across the southeastern United States as highlighted in the map below:
Image source: Audubon
Jabiru
The map indicates areas in southern Texas where vagrant jabiru sightings have occurred:
Image source: Texas Parks and Wildlife
European White Stork
This map shows the summer and winter range of the European white stork, indicating its potential to rarely reach the eastern US:
Image source: IUCN
Physical Description of Stork Species in USA
Here is a comparison table of the physical features of the stork species found in the US:
Species | Height | Wingspan | Weight | Plumage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wood stork | 34-47 inches | 55-65 inches | 4-7 lbs | White body, black flight feathers |
Jabiru | 43-56 inches | 88-120 inches | 8-15 lbs | Mostly white with black wings and tail |
Maguari stork | 36-41 inches | 59-67 inches | 4-7 lbs | Glossy black plumage |
Marabou stork | 45-60 inches | 78-118 inches | 8-20 lbs | Black plumage, bald pink head |
European white stork | 39-43 inches | 79-87 inches | 5-8 lbs | White plumage with black wingtips |
Diet and Feeding Habits
The different storks found in the US have varied diets:
- Wood storks – Feed on fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals and insects.
- Jabirus – Feed on fish, amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans, insects.
- Maguari storks – Feed on aquatic prey like fish, frogs and crabs.
- Marabou storks – Scavengers, feed on carrion and garbage.
- European white storks – Feed on small vertebrates like fish, rodents and amphibians.
Their feeding techniques also differ:
- Wood storks forage in flocks in shallow waters using a tactile technique, probing their bill in mud to catch prey by touch.
- Jabirus stir up waters with their feet to flush out aquatic animals.
- Maguari storks hunt alone, stalking prey in shallow waters.
- Marabou storks scavenge, often following vultures to carcasses.
- European white storks hunt individually, standing motionless to ambush prey.
Breeding and Nesting
Key aspects about the breeding ecology of US storks:
- Wood storks breed colonially in cypress swamps, nesting high up in trees. Breeding season is late winter to summer.
- Jabirus construct large stick nests in trees, often near wetlands. Breed in summer after rainfall.
- Maguari storks nest either solo or in loose groups in marsh vegetation. Breed in rainy season.
- Marabou storks nest in large colonies in trees. Will breed year-round if food is available.
- European white storks nest on buildings, power poles etc. near wetlands. Nest in spring, raise one brood a year.
Conservation Status
The conservation status of the stork species in the US is as follows:
Species | Conservation Status |
---|---|
Wood stork | Threatened under Endangered Species Act |
Jabiru | Not globally threatened |
Maguari stork | Not globally threatened |
Marabou stork | Not globally threatened |
European white stork | Least Concern |
Wood storks suffered severe population declines in the 20th century due to habitat loss, but numbers today are recovering due to conservation efforts.
Final Thoughts
While the wood stork is the only native stork species breeding in the US, vagrant individuals of tropical and Old World storks can occasionally be spotted in states like Texas and Florida. Storks occupy an important ecological role, particularly as wetland indicators, so protecting their populations and habitats remains important from a conservation perspective.