Jabiru, Yabiru

The Jabiru (or Yabiru in Argentina) is the tallest flying bird in the Americas and males can stand as high as 1.5m.  Their range in South America extends from Mexico to Argentina and although locally common in a few places they are in decline.  They are found in wetlands such as the Esteros del Ibera, Pantanal and favour freshwater marshland and shallow water in which to hunt.  They feed on a wide range of prey such as reptiles, amphibians, fish, large insects and sometimes small mammals.

They are a Stork from the family Ciconiidae and build huge nests in the tallest trees they can find.  In our area of Ibera the trees are not very tall so the nests are quite visible.  They normally lay 2 to 5 eggs which both adults brood.  The young fledge at around 110 days and stay with their parents for another 3 months.

They are spectacular to look at with predominantly white plumage, black legs and black featherless upper neck and head. The most distinguishing feature is a red featherless collar at the base of the neck.  The black bill is huge, slightly upturned and daggerlike.  They are very graceful fliers although it takes one or two hops to get into the air.

They have no predators other than perhaps the Jaguar.