Wood Stork, Mycteria americana

Wood Stork, Mycteria americana, Juveniles. Photographs taken within the Florida Everglades, South Florida, October 2022. Photographs and identifications courtesy of Faith Hubsch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Wood Stork, Mycteria americana. Photographs taken within the Florida Everglades, South Florida, October 2022. Photographs and identifications courtesy of Faith Hubsch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Wood Stork, Mycteria americana. Photograph taken within the Caño Negro Wetlands National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Costa Rica, February 2023. Photograph and identification courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California.

Wood Stork, Mycteria americana. Photographs taken within the Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, April 2024. Photograph and identifications courtesy of  Faith Hubsch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Background and Identification

The Wood Stork is the largest wading bird that breeds in the United States, and the only stork that breeds in the United States. This bird stands up to one meter tall and has a wing span of 1.5 meters (5 feet 0 inches). Wood Storks have very dark black or deep brown heads and dark upper necks, and white plumage. Their wing and tail feathers are dark and iridescent.

Habitat and Geographical Range

Wood Storks breed in fresh and brackish forested wetlands. They use open wetlands more frequently than closed-canopy wetlands. Wood Storks, like their other wading counterparts, roost in trees among the water’s edge. Year-round, Wood Storks are primarily found in the Southeast of North and Central America, as well as the majority of South America, except the Western Coast and Southernmost tip of Argentina and Chile. Wood Storks do not inhabit those areas. As migration routes are concerned, these birds congregate in Florida to breed and can be found south along the coast of Mexico and north as far as North Carolina while not breeding.

Common Misidentifications

Due to this wading bird’s large stature, no other species are easily confused for the Wood Stork. Its unique contrast between white plumage and a dark colored head and beak are also easily identified. Various common names for the Wood stork include Flinthead, Ironhead and Pond Gannet.

Conservation Status

From a conservation perspective, the Wood Stork is categorized by the IUCN as Least Concern. This species faced some challenges beginning in the 1960s when an increase in Florida’s population led to degradation of the everglades, but restoration of the everglade wetlands and increased movement of the storks to northern Florida, and other Southeast states balanced the population once more.