African marabou
Leptoptilos crumenifer
Distribution
Sub-Saharan Africa
Habitat
savannahs, marshes
Incubation
1 month
Number of eggs
2 - 3
Longevity
25 years in the wild, 41 years in captivity
Weight
5 to 9 kg
Size
approx. 1.5 m high
Diet
Carnivore and scavenger
Conservation status
:
Not Threatened
A surprising bird!
Although it is part of the stork family, the marabout has a behavior closer to vultures. Indeed, like the latter, it is a scavenger, and flies at altitude in search of carcasses… It can also hunt small animals such as frogs, snakes or small mammals.
It is a couple of marabous that you can discover in their aviary or during the presentation of birds in flight. And you may be surprised if you discover them sitting on their tarsals: this is a characteristic posture of this species!
