the white stork (Ciconia ciconia)
The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a large species of wading birds in the Ciconiidae family. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on the wings. Adults have long red legs and a long, straight red bill, and measure on average 100 to 115 cm from tip of bill to tip of tail, with a wingspan of between 155 and 215 cm. Its life expectancy is 20 to 30 years.
Two subspecies are distinguished, which differ slightly in size and live in Europe, north to Finland, northwest Africa, southern Africa and southwest Asia — east to southern Kazakhstan. The White Stork is a great migratory, and winters in the tropical zones of sub-Saharan Africa as far as South Africa or on the Indian subcontinent. During its migration between Europe and Africa, it avoids crossing the Mediterranean Sea by making a detour to the east via the Levant or to the west via the Strait of Gibraltar because the ascending air currents which it needs do not form above the water.
Two subspecies are distinguished, which differ slightly in size and live in Europe, north to Finland, northwest Africa, southern Africa and southwest Asia — east to southern Kazakhstan. The White Stork is a great migratory, and winters in the tropical zones of sub-Saharan Africa as far as South Africa or on the Indian subcontinent. During its migration between Europe and Africa, it avoids crossing the Mediterranean Sea by making a detour to the east via the Levant or to the west via the Strait of Gibraltar because the ascending air currents which it needs do not form above the water.