The Saddle-billed Stork is a large wading bird in the stork family. It is a widespread species which is a resident breeder in sub-saharan Africa from Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya south to South Africa and in The Gambia, Senegal, Côte d’ivoire and Chad in west Africa. It is a close relative of the widespread Asian Black-necked Stork.
They are silent except for bill-clattering at the nest. Like most storks, these fly with the neck outstretched, not retracted like a heron; in flight, the large heavy bill is kept drooping somewhat below belly height, giving these birds a very unusual appearance to those who see them for the first time.
The Saddle-billed Stork, like most of its relatives, feeds mainly on fish, frogs and crabs, but also on small birds and reptiles. They move in a deliberate and stately manner as they hunt, in a similar way to the larger herons.
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