Marabou stork

species of bird
(Redirected from Leptoptilos)

The marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It breeds in Africa, south of the Sahara, in wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially waste tips.

Marabou stork
Marabou stork in the Mikumi National Park, Tanzania
Scientific classification
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L. crumeniferus
Binomial name
Leptoptilos crumeniferus
Lesson, 1831

It is sometimes called the "Undertaker Bird" due to its shape from behind: cloak-like wings and back, skinny white legs, and sometimes a large white mass of "hair".