Huge, bulky stork with thick neck and massive, slightly upturned bill. Adult: black, featherless head and neck with red patch at base of neck. Dark eye and bill. All white body, extremely long dark legs. First year: similar to adult but paler red patch on neck, with brown feathers scattered on body. Juvenile: Black face, bill and eye. Dusky feathers on head and neck shed quickly after fledgling. Brown and gray body, black legs.

Length: 132 (cm) Wingspan: 229 (cm)

Habitat:

Open, freshwater wetlands or salt flats.

Behavior:

To forage, holds bill open in water. When bill contacts prey, the bird grabs prey, strains out the water and swallows prey whole.

Feeding:

Diet consists of fish, mollusks, small mammals, amphibians, reptiles and insects.