Common name: Black Stork
Scientific name: Ciconia nigra
Family: Ciconiidae

Size:
Body length: 95–100 cm
Wingspan: 145–155 cm
Weight: 2.5–3.5 kg

Identification:
A large, elegant stork with predominantly glossy black plumage showing green and purple iridescence, contrasting sharply with a white belly. It has a long red bill and red legs. In flight, it appears powerful and graceful with broad wings and steady wingbeats. Unlike the more familiar White Stork, it is darker overall and typically seen alone or in small numbers.

Habitat:
Quiet freshwater environments including rivers, streams, wetlands, and forested valleys. Prefers remote and undisturbed areas with access to shallow water for feeding and tall trees or cliffs for nesting.

Status in Lebanon:
Passage migrant and uncommon visitor. Observed mainly during spring and autumn migration, particularly in remote valleys, wetlands, and along inland water bodies. Rare but regular in suitable habitats during migration periods.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds primarily on fish, amphibians, small reptiles, and aquatic invertebrates, which it captures in shallow water.

Behavior:
Shy and secretive compared to other storks. Usually seen alone or in small groups. Forages slowly in shallow water, carefully searching for prey. During migration, it may soar at great heights using thermal currents. Nests in tall trees or on cliff ledges in secluded areas, avoiding human disturbance.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)