Storks

(Ciconiidae), a family of birds from the order Ciconiiformes. Because their vocal cords are not developed, storks are voiceless. There are 11 genera, combining 17 species (marabou, jabiru, etc.). They are distributed chiefly in the tropical, subtropical, and temperate zones. In the USSR, two species from the genus Ciconia exist: the white stork (Ciconia ciconia) and the black stork (Ciconia nigra). The white stork has a red bill and red legs. Its plumage is basically white, with black wing and contour feathers. It can weigh as much as 4 kg. The white stork is encountered in middle and southern Europe, Northwest Africa, Asia Minor and Central Asia, Japan, and Korea. In the USSR, it is found in the southwest, the Middle East, Middle Asia, and the Primor’e Krai. It lives in open spaces among solitary trees, in mountains, and in areas close to human dwellings. Its nests are 1–2 m in diameter and are built in trees, along cliffs, and on the roofs of houses. There are between three and five white eggs in a clutch; both parents sit on the eggs for about 30 days. The pairings are permanent. In middle Europe the number of storks has declined somewhat. Storks feed on frogs, lizards, mice, insects, etc. They are migratory birds, wintering in Central and South Africa, Southeast Asia, and western China.