CICONIA.
Bill straight ; nostrils short horizontal slits ; part of lores and chin bare ; lower feathers of neck elongated ; frequent damp places, feed on frogs, small mammals, insects; nest of sticks in tree or on building ; eggs 3-5, white.
Ciconia ciconia ciconia (L.). WHITE STORK. Fr. Cigogne ; Ger. Starch ; Ital. Cigogna ; Swed. Stork.
6 White ; wings (except lesser wing coverts) and scapulars black ; naked lores and skin round eye black ; chin black and red. Bill, legs and feet red. Wing 6 530-630, ? 530-590. Tarsus 195-24o. Bill 6 150-190, ? 140-170 (W.).
Preeds.—Continental Europe from S. Sweden and Russia about 6o` N. to Mediterranean (not in Belgium or France except N.E.) ; N.W. Africa (Morocco to Tunis) ; also Asia Minor, W. and C. Asia. Migrates ; winters in C. and S. Africa. Of
occasional occurrence in Britain.
Ciconia nigra (L.). BLACK STORK. Ger. Schwarzer Starch ; Swed. Svart Stork.
? Breast, abdomen, under tail coverts and axillaries white ; rest of plumage black with green or purple gloss ; bare skin on chin, round eye and of lores red. Bill, legs and feet orange red. Wing 520-600. Tarsus 180-200. Bill 16o-190 (W.). Young : brown, abdomen white.
Breeds.—S. Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Lower Danube valley ; Spain and Portugal (rare) ; and east through Russia from about 6o` N. ; also N. and C. Asia to Pacific. Migrates ; occurs in winter in Africa, India, and China. Rare visitor Britain, Norway, Finland.