ciconia maguari
The Maguari Stork is resident year round in the Ibera Marshes although we believe that some of them migrate short distances to the south in spring. You can sometimes see groups of 6 or more climbing in thermals in order to fly high.
This is a tall stork of around 85cm, predominantly white with black trailing edges on the wings. It has long red legs and red skin around the eye which is quite noticeable. It has a long dagger like bill for spearing prey which is pale blue above with a black tip. The tail is forked and is white with black outer feathers.
This bird forages in shallow water and has a generalist diet which includes small reptiles, amphibians, invertibrates, larvae, crustaceans and occasionally small mammals.
