White Stork (Ciconia Ciconia)

Storks are a distinct family within the order Ciconiiformes, lacking true vocal muscles. While some storks produce sound only by clattering their beaks, others make wheezing sounds. This morphological trait is also present in New World vultures, as is the behavior of urinating on their legs to cool themselves, which often gives storks a whitish appearance on their legs. Like New World vultures, storks can also feed on carrion. Until recently, storks were classified alongside New World vultures in the order Cathartiformes. However, in the current classification system, storks are the sole family within the order Ciconiiformes. Storks belong to three primary morphological groups. The seven species within the genus Ciconia are considered true storks. Open-billed storks and those in the genus Mycteria are grouped together, while adjutants, saddle-billed storks, and the jabiru belong to the giant stork group. Storks typically nest in colonies in trees. The practice of white storks nesting on chimneys is a non-native adaptation of the species. In many parts of Europe, tree colonies of white storks can still be found. The only stork species that nests on the ground is the South American maguari stork (*Ciconia maguari*).