Appearance
It is the smallest species of stork, at 73 cm and a weight of just over 1 kg. The female lays two to three eggs and is slightly smaller than the male.
Naming
Among the smallest storks, this species is welcomed and protected by local African belief as a harbinger of rain and good luck. The name commemorates the Turkish Governor of Wadi Halfa in Sudan, Bey El-Arnaut Abdim.
Distribution
The Abdim's stork is distributed to open habitats throughout Eastern Africa, from Ethiopia south to South Africa.
Status
Widespread and common throughout its large range, the Abdim's stork is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is the subject of several nationally-coordinated breeding programs: in the United States, the plan for this species is administered by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and in Europe by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.
Food
Its diet consists mainly of locusts, caterpillars and other large insects, although the birds will also eat small reptiles, amphibians, mice, crabs and eggs.References:
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