Feather By Feather

This month former British birdkeeper JARROD COTTER scrutinises the majestic white stork, which through a captive-bred release programme is being reintroduced to breed wild in Britain for the first time in centuries

- JARROD COTTER

THE white stork (Ciconia ciconia) is, as its name would suggest, mostly white, although its flight feathers are black. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks. They measure 39-45in (99-114cm) from beak tip to tail and have a 7ft (2.1m) wingspan.

This species breeds in Europe (north to Finland), north-western Africa, southwestern Asia (east to southern Kazakhstan) and southern Africa. It is a long-distance migrant, wintering in Africa from tropical sub-Saharan regions to as far south as South Africa or on the Indian subcontinent. When migrating between Europe and Africa it avoids crossing the Mediterranean Sea because the air thermals on which it depends for soaring do not form over water.

It is a carnivorous bird, feeding on a range of prey including insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles and small mammals such as voles, moles and shrews. It hunts for its food in low vegetation on the ground and also in shallow water.