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White Stork Ciconia ciconia
IUCN Red List history
| Year | Category |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Least Concern |
| 2009 | Least Concern |
| 2008 | Least Concern |
| 2004 | Least Concern |
| 2000 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1994 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1988 | Near Threatened |
Species attributes
| Migratory status | full migrant | Forest dependency | Does not normally occur in forest |
| Land mass type | Average mass | - |
Distribution
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) | 6,320,000 | medium |
| Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) | 14,100,000 | medium |
| Number of locations | - | |
| Fragmentation | - |
Population & trend
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of mature individuals | poor | Estimated | 2009 | |
| Population trend | Increasing | - | ||
| Number of subpopulations | - | - | - | |
| Largest subpopulation | - | - | - | |
| Generation length (yrs) | 16.5 | - | - | - |
| Trend justification: The overall population trend is increasing, although some populations are decreasing or stable (Wetlands International 2006). In Europe, trends since 1982 have been stable, based on provisional data for 21 countries from the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme (EBCC/RSPB/BirdLife/Statistics Netherlands; P. Vorisek in litt. 2008). | ||||
Country/Territory distribution
| Country/Territory | Occurrence status | Extinct | Breeding | Non-breeding | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Albania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Algeria | Native | No | |||
| Angola | Native | No | |||
| Antigua and Barbuda | Vagrant | No | |||
| Armenia | Native | No | |||
| Austria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Azerbaijan | Native | No | |||
| Bahrain | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Bangladesh | Native | No | |||
| Belarus | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Belgium | Native | No | |||
| Benin | Native | No | |||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Botswana | Native | No | |||
| Bulgaria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Burkina Faso | Native | No | |||
| Burundi | Native | No | |||
| Cameroon | Native | No | |||
| Côte d'Ivoire | Native | No | |||
| Central African Republic | Native | No | |||
| Chad | Native | No | |||
| China (mainland) | Native | No | |||
| Congo | Vagrant | No | |||
| Congo, The Democratic Republic of the | Native | No | |||
| Croatia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Cyprus | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Czech Republic | Native | No | |||
| Denmark | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Djibouti | Native | No | |||
| Egypt | Native | No | |||
| Eritrea | Native | No | |||
| Estonia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Ethiopia | Native | No | |||
| Finland | Vagrant | No | |||
| France | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Gabon | Native | No | |||
| Gambia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Georgia | Native | No | |||
| Germany | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Ghana | Native | No | |||
| Gibraltar (to UK) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Greece | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Guinea | Native | No | |||
| Guinea-Bissau | Native | No | |||
| Hungary | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Iceland | Vagrant | No | |||
| India | Native | No | |||
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Native | No | |||
| Iraq | Native | No | |||
| Ireland | Vagrant | No | |||
| Israel | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Italy | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Jordan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kazakhstan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kenya | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kuwait | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kyrgyzstan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Latvia | Native | No | |||
| Lebanon | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Lesotho | Native | No | |||
| Liberia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Libya | Native | No | |||
| Liechtenstein | Native | No | |||
| Lithuania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Luxembourg | Native | No | |||
| Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Malawi | Native | No | |||
| Mali | Native | No | |||
| Malta | Native | No | |||
| Mauritania | Native | No | |||
| Moldova | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Montenegro | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Morocco | Native | No | |||
| Mozambique | Native | No | |||
| Namibia | Native | No | |||
| Nepal | Native | No | |||
| Netherlands | Native | No | |||
| Niger | Native | No | |||
| Nigeria | Native | No | |||
| Norway | Vagrant | No | |||
| Oman | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Pakistan | Native | No | |||
| Palestinian Authority Territories | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Poland | Native | No | |||
| Portugal | Native | No | |||
| Qatar | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Romania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Russia (Central Asian) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Russia (European) | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Rwanda | Native | No | |||
| Saudi Arabia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| São Tomé e Príncipe | Vagrant | No | |||
| Senegal | Native | No | |||
| Serbia | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Seychelles | Vagrant | No | |||
| Sierra Leone | Vagrant | No | |||
| Slovakia | Native | No | |||
| Slovenia | Native | No | |||
| Somalia | Native | No | |||
| South Africa | Native | No | |||
| South Sudan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Spain | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Sri Lanka | Native | No | |||
| St Helena (to UK) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Sudan | Native | No | |||
| Swaziland | Native | No | |||
| Sweden | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Switzerland | Native | No | |||
| Syria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Tajikistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Tanzania | Native | No | |||
| Thailand | Native | No | |||
| Togo | Native | No | |||
| Tunisia | Native | No | |||
| Turkey | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Turkmenistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Uganda | Native | No | |||
| Ukraine | Native | No | Yes | ||
| United Arab Emirates | Native | No | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom | Vagrant | No | |||
| Uzbekistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Western Sahara | Native | No | |||
| Yemen | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Zambia | Native | No | |||
| Zimbabwe | Native | No |
Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria
| Country/Territory | IBA Name | IBA link |
|---|---|---|
| Armenia | Metsamor |  |
| Armenia | Noravank | |
| Austria | Lower Mur valley | |
| Austria | March/Thaya riverine forest | |
| Austria | Southern Seewinkel and Zitzmannsdorfer Wiesen | |
| Belarus | Bielaviežškaja Pušča | |
| Belarus | Mid Prypiac' | |
| Bulgaria | Kalimok Complex | |
| Bulgaria | Mesta Valley | |
| Bulgaria | Obnova Fish-ponds | |
| Bulgaria | Palakaria | |
| Bulgaria | Rupite | |
| Bulgaria | Zlatiata | |
| Croatia | Alluvial wetlands of the River Drava | |
| Czech Republic | Confluence of the Morava (March) and Dyje (Thaya) rivers - Tvrdonicko | |
| Czech Republic | Hermansky stav-Odra-Poolsi wetlands | |
| Czech Republic | Pálava | |
| Czech Republic | Poodri | |
| Czech Republic | Trebonsko (Trebon region) | |
| Estonia | Väinameri | |
| France | Anse de Fouras, baie d'Yves et marais de Rochefort | |
| France | Baie des Veys et Marais du Cotentin | |
| France | Barthes de l'Adour | |
| France | Bassin d'Arcachon et Banc d'Arguin | |
| France | Ile d'Oléron, marais de Brouage-Saint-Agnant | |
| France | La Dombes | |
| France | Marais poitevin et baie de l'Aiguillon | |
| Greece | Amvrakikos gulf | |
| Greece | Evros delta | |
| Greece | Lake Kerkini | |
| Greece | Lakes Volvi-Langada (or Koronia-Ag. Vasiliou) and Rentina Gorge (or Makedonika Tempi) | |
| Greece | Nestou delta and coastal lagoons | |
| Greece | Porto Lagos, Lake Vistonis, and coastal lagoons (Lakes of Thrace) | |
| Greece | Thessaly plain | |
| India | Nandur Madhmeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Lake Bakhtegan, Lake Tashk and Kamjan marshes | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Lake Kobi | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Lake Uromiyeh | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Lake Zaribar | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Shadegan marshes and tidal mudflats of Khor-al Amaya and Khor Musa | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Shur Gol, Yadegarlu and Dorgeh Sangi lakes | |
| Iraq | Baquba wetlands | |
| Israel | Carmel coast | |
| Israel | Cliffs of Zin and the Negev highlands | |
| Israel | Jezre'el, Harod and Bet She'an valleys | |
| Israel | Northern Arava valley | |
| Israel | Northern lower Jordan valley | |
| Israel | Southern Arava valley and Elat mountains | |
| Israel | Western Negev | |
| Israel | Zevulun valley | |
| Jordan | Jordan Valley | |
| Jordan | Samra sewage station | |
| Luxembourg | Upper Valley of the Alzette | |
| Luxembourg | Valley of the Syre | |
| Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of | Pelagonia | |
| Oman | Masirah island | |
| Poland | Biebrza river valley | |
| Poland | Elblag Height | |
| Poland | Kurpie Site | |
| Poland | Lower Bug river valley | |
| Poland | Middle Warta River Valley | |
| Poland | Pasleka river valley | |
| Poland | Pisz forest | |
| Poland | Sandomierz Forest | |
| Poland | Tuchola Forest | |
| Poland | Warmia Site | |
| Portugal | Castro Marim | |
| Portugal | Castro Verde plains | |
| Portugal | Montesinho and Nogueira mountains | |
| Portugal | Mourão, Moura e Barrancos | |
| Portugal | Paul do Taipal | |
| Portugal | Ria Formosa (Faro lagoon) | |
| Portugal | River Guadiana | |
| Portugal | Sabôr and Maçãs | |
| Portugal | Sado estuary | |
| Portugal | Serra do Caldeirão | |
| Portugal | South-west coast of Portugal | |
| Portugal | Tejo estuary | |
| Romania | Avrig - Scorei - Făgăraş | |
| Romania | Braţul Borcea | |
| Romania | Calafat - Ciuperceni - Dunăre | |
| Romania | Câmpia Nirului - Valea lerului | |
| Romania | Cârja - Maţa - Rădeanu - Roşcani | |
| Romania | Ciuc Depression | |
| Romania | Confluenţa Jiu - Dunăre | |
| Romania | Danube Delta | |
| Romania | Jijiei şi Miletinului fish-ponds | |
| Romania | Lake Strachina | |
| Romania | Măcin - Niculiţel | |
| Romania | Olt valley | |
| Romania | Olteniţa - Ulmeni | |
| Romania | Prut river flood-plain - Vlădeşti - Frumuşiţa | |
| Romania | Râului Negru valley | |
| Romania | Suhaia | |
| Saudi Arabia | Malaki dam | |
| Serbia | Bosutska forest | |
| Serbia | Gornje Podunavlje | |
| Serbia | Obedska bara | |
| Serbia | Uzdin fish-pond | |
| Slovakia | Kosice valley | |
| Slovakia | Laborecka upland | |
| South Sudan | Sudd (Bahr-el-Jebel system) | |
| Spain | Alto Lozoya-La Pedriza | |
| Spain | Canalizos mountain range (Saceruela) | |
| Spain | Castronuño-Zamora | |
| Spain | Cortados del Jarama | |
| Spain | El Escorial-San Martín de Valdeiglesias | |
| Spain | Isla Cristina and Ayamonte marshes and Prado lagoon | |
| Spain | La Limia | |
| Spain | Olivenza-La Albuera | |
| Spain | Oropesa plains | |
| Spain | Pela mountain range-Orellana reservoir-Zorita | |
| Spain | Plain between Cáceres and Trujillo-Aldea del Cano | |
| Spain | River Cega-Tierra de Pinares-Cantalejo | |
| Spain | River Moros | |
| Spain | Segovia | |
| Spain | Talamanca-Camarma | |
| Spain | Tietar valley | |
| Spain | Trujillo-Torrecillas de la Tiesa | |
| Syria | Golan Heights | |
| Tanzania | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | |
| Turkey | Balıkdamı | |
| Turkey | Bismil Plain | |
| Turkey | Bosphorus | |
| Turkey | Ceyhan Delta | |
| Turkey | Eşmekaya Marshes | |
| Turkey | Göksu Delta | |
| Turkey | Sarıyar Reservoir | |
| Turkey | İğneada Forests | |
| Uzbekistan | "Balykchi" Fish Farm | |
| Uzbekistan | Dalverzin State Forestry and Hunting Management Area | |
| Uzbekistan | Mirzaaral Tugay | |
| Uzbekistan | Tuyabuguz Reservoir | |
| Yemen | Ta'izz wadis | |
Habitats & altitude
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | Pastureland | major | non-breeding |
| Grassland | Temperate | major | non-breeding |
| Altitude | 0 - 3500 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
Utilisation
| Purpose | Primary form used | Life stage used | Source | Scale | Level | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pets | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Food (human) | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Pets | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | International | Trivial | Recent |
| Sport | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Ciconia ciconia. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013.
This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Current IUCN Red List category | Least Concern |
| Family | Ciconiidae (Storks) |
| Species name author | (Linnaeus, 1758) |
| Population size | mature individuals |
| Population trend | Increasing |
| Distribution size (breeding/resident) | 6,320,000 km2 |
| Country endemic? | No |
| Links to further information | |
|
- Summary information on this species - Climate change species distributions | |
|
|