Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores - Saddle-billed Stork

Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores
Saddle-billed Stork
Page 12

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Length: 145 cm (57 inches)

Status: Common

Habitat: Saddle-billed storks are found near shallow water and marshes. They are seldom seen along rivers or lake shores.

Food: Saddle-billed storks eat fish, locusts, mollusks, frogs and small lizards, including immature monitor lizards.

Social System/Behavior: Their mating habits are similar to the yellow-billed storks. Males and females pair for long periods. The male saddle-billed stork is about the same size as the female but can be identified by small wattles that hang below his bill.

The pair builds a solitary nest of sticks in trees. The female lays one egg. The nest

may take over that of a secretary bird. There is little that the secretary bird can do to stop the takeover. Saddle-billed storks are the second tallest bird in the Serengeti-Mara after the ostrich.

Predators: As with the yellow-billed stork, leopards, snakes and large birds of prey present the only real threat.

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