American White Stork

The American white stork (Neociconia americanum) is a species of stork native throughout the shorelines, marshlands, swamplands, cities, and suburbs across North America. The American white storks are closely related to the European white stork (Ciconia ciconia), but American white storks have slightly upturned beaks, which are more red in color than the European species, and have slightly grey feathers on the rump areas. The American white storks are omnivorous and mainly feed on wheat, seeds, insects, fish, frogs, small lizards, smaller birds (rarely), small mammals, and carrion (rarely). The American white storks are migratory in most of the eastern parts of North America, except the Southeastern US (where they feed on breed year-round there), migrating to either Mexico or Western US, where it is warmer and has enough food for them for Winter before migrating back. The conservation status of the American white storks is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the storks' tolerance to human activities, and are highly resistant to otherwise deadly diseases and viruses, including West Nile viruses.