Wood Stork

The Wood Stork is the only stork species that breeds regularly in North America, found from the southeastern United States south through Central and South America in freshwater and coastal wetlands. Its soaring flight on broad black-and-white wings and distinctive bare head set it apart from the herons and egrets sharing its wetland habitats.

Body feathers are pure white throughout, but the flight feathers—both primaries and secondaries—and the tail are glossy black, creating a bold white-body, black-trailing-edge pattern easily seen in flight and on shed feathers. These flight feathers are notably large, stiff, and broad, suited to the bird's soaring flight style. Unlike white egrets and herons, which are feathered on the head, the Wood Stork's head and upper neck are bare grayish-black skin rather than feathers, so any feathers found will only represent the body, wings, and tail, never the head.

Sexes look alike. Juveniles have a feathered, downy grayish head and neck rather than bare skin, along with a duller, more brownish wash to the body plumage, gradually losing head feathers and developing the bare adult skin with maturity.

Inhabits freshwater swamps, marshes, and mangroves across the southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America, and much of South America. Some populations shift seasonally in response to water levels, concentrating where prey becomes accessible as wetlands dry.

Forages using a specialized tactile feeding method, sweeping its partly open bill through shallow water to detect and snap up prey by touch rather than sight, particularly effective in murky or drying wetlands. Nests colonially in trees over water, often alongside herons and egrets. Generally silent away from the nest, where it communicates mainly through bill-clattering displays. Frequently seen soaring on thermals at considerable height.