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Oriental Stork

Ciconia boyciana

Endangered

Length

115.0 cm

Wingspan

220.0 cm

Weight

5000.0 g

Family

Ciconiidae

Order

Ciconiiformes

About

The oriental stork is one of the most endangered stork species, with fewer than 3,000 individuals remaining in the wild. It was once widespread across East Asia but declined dramatically due to wetland drainage and pesticide use. Reintroduction programs in Japan and Korea have achieved notable success.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Body Length	115.0 cm	45.3 in
Wingspan	220.0 cm	86.6 in
Weight	5000.0 g	176.37 oz

Identification

Plumage

White body plumage with black flight feathers. Red bare skin around the eye and black bill distinguish it from the white stork. Pinkish-red legs.

Bill

Long, thick, straight, black bill

Habitat & Range

Wetlands, flooded rice paddies, rivers, and marshes. Nests on tall trees, utility poles, and artificial platforms.

🌿 Wetland

Geographic Range

Breeds in the Russian Far East and northeastern China. Winters in southeastern China, Japan, and Korea.

Diet & Feeding

Fish, frogs, snakes, large insects, and small mammals caught in shallow wetlands. Feeds by wading and probing muddy water.

Conservation Status

Endangered

IUCN Red List

Behavior & Breeding

Nesting

Incubation: 32-35 days. Fledging: 55 days.

Clutch Size

2-6

Sound

Song

Essentially silent like all storks; produces loud mechanical bill-clattering at the nest as a greeting display. Chicks beg with hissing and squeaking. Rarely vocalizes otherwise.

Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Ciconiiformes (Storks)
Family	Ciconiidae (Storks)
Genus	Ciconia
Species	Ciconia boyciana

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name
German	Mandschurenstorch
Spanish	Cigüeña Oriental

Distribution

Oriental Stork has been recorded in 7 countries.

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Present Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇫🇷 France 🇯🇵 Japan 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇹🇼 Taiwan 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

External Databases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Oriental Stork eat?

Fish, frogs, snakes, large insects, and small mammals caught in shallow wetlands. Feeds by wading and probing muddy water.

Where does the Oriental Stork live?

Wetlands, flooded rice paddies, rivers, and marshes. Nests on tall trees, utility poles, and artificial platforms.

Is the Oriental Stork endangered?

The Oriental Stork has a conservation status of Endangered.

How does the Oriental Stork nest?

Incubation: 32-35 days. Fledging: 55 days.

What does the Oriental Stork sound like?

Essentially silent like all storks; produces loud mechanical bill-clattering at the nest as a greeting display. Chicks beg with hissing and squeaking. Rarely vocalizes otherwise.

How big is the Oriental Stork?

The Oriental Stork has a body length of 115.0 cm, wingspan of 220.0 cm, weight of 5000.0 g.

What order and family does the Oriental Stork belong to?

The Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana) belongs to the order Ciconiiformes and the family Ciconiidae.