Wood Stork Mycteria Americana In Sawgrass Wetlands In Florida Stock Photo

Wood Stork Mycteria americana in wetlands in Florida The wood stork is a large American wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It was formerly called the `wood ibis`, though it is not an ibis. It is found in subtropical and tropical habitats in the Americas, including the Caribbean. In South America, it is resident, but in North America, it may disperse to as far as South America. Originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, this stork likely evolved in tropical regions. The head and neck are bare of feathers and dark grey in colour. The plumage is mostly white, with the exception of the tail and some of the wing feathers, which are black with a greenish-purplish sheen. The juvenile differs from the adult, with the former having a feathered head and a yellow bill, compared to the black adult bill. The sexes are similar.