Which African bird has a bright red throat pouch and a huge wingspan?

The marabou stork is the African bird with a prominent red throat pouch and a very large wingspan.

Marabou storks are tall wading birds found across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Their naked head and neck, long legs, dark wings, and dangling throat pouch give them a distinctive appearance. The pouch is especially conspicuous in adults and is associated with display and courtship rather than serving as a storage bag for food.

They are opportunistic feeders that eat carrion, fish, frogs, insects, and other available food. Their scavenging habits have earned them an unflattering reputation, but they also perform an important ecological role by consuming animal remains.

Marabou storks often soar on thermals and may gather in large groups around food or nesting colonies. They are sometimes confused with herons or other storks, but the bare head, huge bill, and hanging throat sac are useful identification clues.