What Do White Storks Eat?

The white stork (Ciconia ciconia) is one of 17 stork species in the world. This bird has the webbed feet and slender legs of a wetlands species, while its carnivorous appetite and two layers of down fur make white storks similar to birds of prey. White storks are native to Europe but spend their winters in Africa.

  1. Diet

    • White storks are opportunistic feeders, consuming nearly every animal small enough to grasp with their bills. Some of the white stork's dietary options are crustaceans, fish, snakes, lizards, amphibians and mollusks. On occasion, white storks prey on small chicks or ground-dwelling birds. When hunting for food, these birds wade into water with their bills facing the ground. When they see potential prey pass by, white storks quickly thrust their beaks toward the ground to catch their intended targets. While in Africa, white storks will take advantage of grass fires to capture small animals fleeing from the flames.

    Physical Description

    • As its name implies, the white stork has mostly white feathers; black feathers adorn the bird's wing tips. White storks grow up to 40 inches tall and their wingspan stretches over 5 feet. The white stork's bill is red and has a pointed shape; the storks legs are also red. White storks are not sexually dimorphic, meaning male and female white storks have the same plumage coloration. Male white storks are usually larger than females. Young white storks have dull-colored plumage compared to adults.

    Habitats

    • The white stork's habitat largely determines the bird's diet. Grasslands, marshes and aquatic areas are the primary habitats of white storks. When foraging for food, these storks wade into water or search for prey near the shores of lakes and rivers. However, white storks use lofty positions for building their nests. Some possible nesting sites for white storks are treetops, rocky cliffs and the roofs of buildings. Although the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the white stork as Least Concern, white stork populations are on the decline due to human encroachment, drainage of wetlands areas and agricultural development.

    Migration

    • Most of the white stork's prey are active only from spring to early fall. Many reptiles, amphibians and small mammals hibernate or seek shelter in the winter. As a result, white storks migrate during the summer and winter to find food. When migrating, white storks usually fly over land masses in case they need to rest during their journey. Some white storks fly over the Middle East countries -- Turkey, Lebanon and Israel -- but most specimens pass over the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. Europe is the summer destination and breeding grounds.