Wood Storks are the only storks which breed in North America. They are considered a threatened species in the United States. This page has images of immature and adult wood storks. The subsequent page shows the birds in action as they fish.
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The wood stork appears to be an all-white bird when on the ground, but it has black flight feathers.
[One wood stork flying high directly overhead. From this view the black feathers appear to be the outer half of the wings with the inner part white. Its skinny legs/feet are together behind teh tail.]

A closer view of the black flight feathers.
[A wood stork in flight. As it angles toward the ground its long, curved beak leads the way. It has white feathers on its neck and the upper parts of its wings. The lower parts of the wings have black feathers. This is a side view of the bird with both wings above the body.]

This wood stork has brought down the landing gear as it approaches the ground.
[Back view of the bird with its wings outstretched to the sides and its feet hanging straight down. All three toes are visible hanging down from the legs. The bird is coming in over water and the stone arches of the bridge are reflected in the water.]

Feet up in preparation for landing.
[Same bird as it gets closer to the ground beside the water. Wings are still outstretched and all black feathers are visible at the tips of the wings. The inner part of the bird is white.]

Bending of the wings as the Wood stork flies.
[Two images of the same wood stork in flight with its long beak leading the way. Image on right has wings totally outstreched such that the black feathers along the wing's edges are visible. Image on left is of bird flapping its wings such that each wing is half folded.]

Lone adult wood stork I saw in early February.
[Wood stork walking on grass. Some of its black feathers can be seen under the ruffled white ones.]

These are juvenile wood storks. The area on their head and necks is still feathery and is beige.
[Two wood storks are sitting at the grass at the top of the paved embankment. Both theses storks are looking at the camera. A third stork is lying on the ground behind them.]

The juvenile necks are more visible in this image. These are the same two birds as in the prior photo.
[Close view of the front two storks. Both are looking to the right so this profile view shows feathers sticking out of their necks.]

Adult wood storks have no feathers on their heads.
[Head and upper body of a Wood stork resting in the grass. Its entire head and neck are scaly and rough in contrast to its feathery white body. It has a bill which is longer than its head and neck. The head, neck, and bill are a greyish dark-gold color.]

Even birds get itches which need scratched.
[Wood stork stands on one leg in the grass as it uses the other foot to scratch its throat.]

The feet of a wood stork are partially webbed.
[Wood stork stands on brown concrete which make its partially webbed pink feet visible. The bird has its weight on one foot which is flat against the ground so the webbing is visible.]

Adult wood storks do not have feathers on their heads.
[White bird with a dark head and beak and a few black feathers showing.It's pink feet at the end of black legs are visible as it rests on high ground in the water.]

Wood storks are nearly three foot tall, but they still land in trees.
[Wood stork stands on a thick branch of an evergreen tree.]

This zoomed out view of the prior photo gives an idea of just how high in the tree the wood stork is. The grey line in the lower right corner is the top rail of the chain link fence.
[The wood stork is probably at least 30 foot in the air as it stands on the branch. The tree is probably about 50 foot tall.]

Continue to page 2 of 2 to see the wood storks fishing.

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All photos © S. M. Garver