Abdim's Stork Ciconia abdimii - some photos and notes

Abdim's Stork Ciconia abdimii

Ethiopia
January 2016

Abdim's Stork is distributed in Africa south of the Sahara and in the south-west of the Arabian Peninsula. Most populations breed north of the Equator and migrate south during the northern winter. See the distribution map at Birdlife International. It is found, usually in large flocks, in a variety of habitats but with a preference for open grasslands.

It is generally black with a purple-green sheen and white on the rump and lower breast and belly. It has blue facial skin, red lores and eyering and a small greenish-grey bill. All bare parts are brighter during the breeding season.

Abdim was a Turkish governor of Dongola in Sudan from 1821 to 1827 who helped the German collector Rüppell during his North African expedition.

Abdim's Stork, Bale Mountains, Ethiopia, January 2016 - click for larger image

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