Reflections of the Natural World

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WOOD STORK – Pura Vida Birds and Birding

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Jim Gain

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@ South Padre Is.Bay Access mudflats, TX

Birds & Birding in Costa Rica: – Costa Rica’s national motto and tourism slogan, “La Pura Vida” loosely translates to Live Life or Enjoy Life. With over 900 bird species recorded in Costa Rica, there is certainly lots to enjoy! With 12 of the world’s 18 life zones, its diverse landscapes, including tropical rainforests, cloud forests, mangroves, and savannas, provide habitat for a wide range of iconic birds A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain

BIRDS & BIRDING IN COSTA RICA WEBSITE LINK

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

WOOD STORK – (Species Account Blog #74)

TAXONOMIC TREE:  

  • ORDER: Ciconiiformes,
  • FAMILY: Ciconiidae,
  • BINOMIAL NAME: Mycteria americana

Huge, long-legged, black-and-white waterbird, about the size of Great Blue Heron. White body with black flight feathers. Adults have a wrinkly bald head and fairly dark bill; juveniles have paler bill and more messy feathering on head and neck. Bill is thicker and more curved than herons. Forages mainly for fish by moving open bill through water until it feels prey. Found in wetlands, particularly flooded swamps and shallow ponds. (from Birds of the World)

SIMILAR SPECIES

Wood Stork is unique in appearance and unlikely to be confused with any other species within its range, except during flight, when it may resemble American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), White Ibis (Eudocimus albus), or King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa

Wood Stork (above) vs American White Pelican (below)

DISTRIBUTION

Wood Stork Distribution Map (from Birds of the World)

PERSONAL OBSERVATION ANECDOTES

In Costa Rica we observed Wood Storks mixed in with Snowy Egrets and a couple of White Ibis while on the boat tour at the mouth of the Tárcoles River.

PHOTO GALLERY

**Some of these Photo Gallery images (all taken by me) have been taken in other nearby countries.

@ Tárcoles–Tour en Bote, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
@ Tárcoles–Tour en Bote, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
@ New River waterway, Belize
@ Merritt Island NWR –Black Point Wildlife Drive, FL

RECENT BLOG POSTS

View the five most recent Birds & Birding in Costa Rica series blog posts below.

One response to “WOOD STORK – Pura Vida Birds and Birding”

  1. navasolanature Avatar
    navasolanature

    Costa Rica is the one place I would fly to. Thanks for your sharing of birds there.

    Reply

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ABOUT THE SITE

With a primary focus on birds, each blog series has it’s own unique look at the wildlife and wild places encountered at different locations that I have visited around the world.

ABOUT ME

I earned my college degree in biology, a foundation that shaped not only how I see the world, but how I’ve spent my life sharing it with others. For more than 40 years, I taught and led in public education, helping students discover the wonder woven into every corner of the natural world. That same drive has carried me through decades of citizen science and conservation work. As an active member of the Modesto Camera Club, I’ve developed a photographic practice that blends natural history with visual artistry, and my award‑winning images have been featured across the Internet on dozens of sites and field‑oriented platforms. This blog brings together my passions for birding, conservation, and storytelling.

~ Jim Gain

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