The black stork migrates between Europe and Africa and has mostly black plumage with a white belly.
Black storks breed across much of Europe and parts of Asia. European birds generally migrate south for winter, using routes through the Strait of Gibraltar or the Bosphorus before reaching sub-Saharan Africa. Some populations in warmer parts of Europe remain resident, so not every black stork makes the same journey.
The species is often confused with the white stork, which is more familiar around villages and rooftops. Black storks are shyer and usually prefer wooded wetlands, rivers, marshes, and quiet forested areas. Their dark feathers show a green and purple sheen in good light, while the belly and lower breast are white.
Black storks feed on fish, amphibians, insects, and other small animals. Unlike many soaring migrants, they avoid long sea crossings because thermals form less reliably over open water.