Ciconia nigra
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
In 3 days <5% in a week ~10%
The black stork (Ciconia nigra) is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae. Measuring on average 95 to 100 cm (37 to 39 in) from beak tip to end of tail with a 145-to-155 cm (57-to-61 in) wingspan, the adult black stork has mainly black plumage, with white underparts, long red legs and a long pointed red beak. A widespread but uncommon species, it breeds in scattered locations across Europe (predominantly in Portugal and Spain, and central and eastern parts), and east across the Palearctic to the Pacific Ocean. It is a long-distance migrant, with European populations wintering in tropical Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asian populations in the Indian subcontinent. When migrating between Europe and Africa, it avoids crossing broad expanses of the Mediterranean Sea and detours via the Levant in the east, the Strait of Sicily in the center, or the Strait of Gibraltar in the west. An isolated non-migratory population lives in Southern Africa.
Unlike the closely related white stork, the black stork is a shy and wary species. It is seen singly or in pairs, usually in marshy areas, rivers or inland waters. It feeds on amphibians, small fish and insects, generally wading slowly in shallow water stalking its prey. Breeding pairs usually build nests in large forest trees—most commonly deciduous but also coniferous—which can be seen from long distances, as well as on large boulders, or under overhanging ledges in mountainous areas. The female lays two to five greyish-white eggs, which become soiled over time in the nest. Incubation takes 32 to 38 days, with both sexes sharing duties, and fledging takes 60 to 71 days.
The black stork is considered to be a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, but its actual status is uncertain. Despite its large range, it is nowhere abundant, and it appears to be declining in parts of its range, such as in India, China and parts of Western Europe, though increasing in others such as the Iberian Peninsula. Various conservation measures have been taken for the black stork, like the Conservation Action Plan for African black storks by Wetlands International. It is also protected under the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. On 31 May 1968, South Korea designated the species as natural monument 200. Wikipedia →
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taiyuan | 🇨🇳 China | |
| 2 | Shijiazhuang | 🇨🇳 China | |
| 3 | Istanbul | 🇹🇷 Turkey | |
| 4 | Ulaanbaatar | 🇲🇳 Mongolia | |
| 5 | Beijing | 🇨🇳 China | |
| 6 | Ramallah | 🇵🇸 Palestine | |
| 7 | Kyiv | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | |
| 8 | Jerusalem | 🇮🇱 Israel | |
| 9 | Belgrade | 🇷🇸 Serbia | |
| 10 | Warsaw | 🇵🇱 Poland |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black Stork sighting in Ngorongoro Conservation Area on a given day, based on 29 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 389th most-seen of the 519 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, and over a week to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black Stork in Ngorongoro Conservation Area on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black Stork sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
38th of 45
Of the 45 parks where we can rate Black Stork sightings, Ngorongoro Conservation Area ranks 38th at under 5%. The best odds are in Monfragüe National Park (Spain, about 30%), Chitwan National Park (Nepal, about 20%) and Ranthambore National Park (India, about 20%).
Same genus: Ciconia
The closest relatives of the Black Stork that you can see in Ngorongoro Conservation Area (genus Ciconia, Ciconia Storks) are White Stork (about 20%) and Abdim's Stork (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Black Stork is recorded against all the birds logged in Ngorongoro Conservation Area (29 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
