Marabou

The unmistakeable marabous, also known colloquially as “undertaker birds” on account of their appearance from the rear, belong to the same family as the stork and are native to sub-Saharan Africa. Marabous are markedly larger than our native storks and reach a height of approximately 150 cm and boast a wingspan measuring approximately 300 cm. Head, neck and gular sac are sparsely feathered. These features, together with the strong bill, indicate the diet of a scavenger. Alongside carrion, Marabous feed on insects, such as grasshoppers, small mammals, chicks, fish and amphibians. They also frequent landfill sites in search for food. The conspicuous gular sac probably helps with temperature regulation.