mycteria

Mycteria is a genus of large wading birds in the stork family (Ciconiidae). The best known member is the American wood stork (Mycteria americana). Birds in this genus are adapted to feeding in shallow wetlands, with long bills and long legs, and they typically have predominantly white plumage with dark flight feathers visible in flight.

Geographic range and habitat: Mycteria species are native to the Americas, with occurrences from the southeastern United States through Central America, the Caribbean, and into parts of South America. They inhabit freshwater and brackish wetlands such as marshes, swamps, mangroves, and flooded fields.

Behavior and diet: These storks are mostly piscivorous, feeding on fish along with amphibians, crustaceans, and insects. Foraging behavior often involves standing still, walking slowly in shallow water, or probing with a rapid bill strike. They can be solitary foraging birds or form small groups; some populations undertake seasonal movement in response to water levels.

Reproduction and life history: Nests are built in trees or shrubs near water, often in colonies near wetland areas. Nests are constructed from sticks and lined with plant material. Clutch size is typically a small number of eggs, commonly around three to five, and both parents participate in incubation and chick rearing. Chicks fledge after several weeks.

Taxonomy and conservation: The genus Mycteria centers on the American wood stork as a primary representative, though some taxonomic treatments recognize additional species within the genus. Conservation concerns largely reflect wetland loss and degradation; protections and habitat restoration have benefited some populations, but ongoing monitoring and management are common.

See also: Storks, Ciconiidae.