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Marabout


Marabout
Photo Information
Copyright: Patrick Hubert (yquem46) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 158] (790)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-02-23
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D 70, Nikon 300mm f/4 AF S
Exposure: f/8, 1/350 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-02-18 1:02
Viewed: 4285
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
De/From Wikipédia

Les marabouts sont de très grands échassiers des latitudes tropicales. Ce sont des oiseaux de très grande taille, de 100 à 150 cm avec une envergue de 210 à 250 cm. Chaque espèce a un dos et des ailes noirs, un dos et le dessous de la queue blancs. La tête et le cou sont déplumés comme ceux des vautours. Le bec est très long et massif. Les jeunes individus ont un duvet et sont une version brune de leurs parents.
Les marabouts sont des animaux grégaires, nichant en colonies dans des régions humides et construisant de grands nids de brindilles dans les arbres. Ils se nourrissent de batraciens, d'insectes, de jeunes oiseaux, de lézards et de rongeurs. Ils adoptent fréquemment un comportement charognard

The Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It breeds in Africa south of the Sahara, occurring in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially waste tips. It is sometimes called the "undertaker bird," due to its shape from behind: cloak-like wings and back, skinny white legs, and sometimes, a large white mass of "hair."
A massive bird, large specimens are thought to reach a height of 150 cm (60 in), a weight of over 9 kg (20 lbs) and have a wingspan of at least 3.2 m (10.5 ft). In the last regard, it shares the distinction of having the largest wingspan of any landbird with the Andean Condor. More typically, these birds measure 110-140 cm (43-55 in), 225-287 cm (89-113 in) across the wings, and weigh 4.5-8 kg (10-18 lbs). Unlike most storks, the three Leptoptilos species fly with the neck retracted like a heron.
The Marabou is unmistakable due to its size, bare head and neck, black back, and white underparts. It has a huge bill, a pink gular sack at its throat, a neck ruff, and black legs and wings. The sexes are alike, but the young bird is browner and has a smaller bill. Full maturity is not reached for up to four years.
Like most storks, the Marabou is gregarious and a colonial breeder. In the African dry season (when food is more readily available as the pools shrink) it builds a tree nest in which two or three eggs are laid.

The Marabou Stork is a frequent scavenger, and the naked head and neck are adaptations to this, as it is with the vultures with which the stork often feeds. In both cases, a feathered head would become rapidly clotted with blood and other substances when the bird's head was inside a large corpse, and the bare head is easier to keep clean.
This large and powerful bird will eat different kinds of animals, either alive or as carrion, including small mammals, reptiles, and similar prey. Living prey includes termites, fish, locusts, grasshoppers, caterpillars, frogs, rodents, crocodile eggs and hatchlings, quelea nestlings, doves, young and adult flamingos, cormorant nestlings, and pelican chicks.
haraprasan, robindb, mohaiminawang, uleko, septimiu_nemes, valy67, Noisette has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 967 W: 26 N: 3888] (16941)
  • [2009-02-18 1:07]

Hello Patrik
Nice capture with good details and natural colors.
Regards.
Razvan

Namastay Patrick,
A nice capture of this beautiful Marabou Stork. Good sharp details. But composition wise I would have kept the crane a bit to the left and also added a little more space on the above. Anyway just my taste of composition. A good composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi Patrick,

a good image of probably one of the uglier bird species but which plays a vital role in nature. Good detail and sharpness.

Robin

Hi Patrick,

Great potrait of Marabou Stork.Good detail, light and very natural colour.Very tight frame though .TFS.

regards
mohaimin

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2009-02-18 11:30]

Hello Patrick,
Not exactly a beauty but a beasutiful capture!! I love its pose and the beautiful light. Great details and natural colours too in this fine composition.
TFS and regards, Ulla

very beautiful capture Patrick !
wonderful colours and perfect sharp , fine details and good natural light ,
well done !
septimiu

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1727 W: 59 N: 3060] (9219)
  • [2009-02-18 14:18]

Bonsoir Patrick !
Ces oiseaux sont vraiment laids, avec leur tête chauve, mais la photo est géniale, avec plein d'excellents détails et des couleurs très naturelles. La pose de l'oiseau est également très belle, tout comme la composition, le POV, et j'aime bien aussi l'arrière-plan qui nous montre un peu la rivière où tu as trouvé l'oiseau. Félicitations !
Valérie.

Bonjour Patrick
Le marabout est un animal qu'on voit rarement sur TN, c'est pourquoi cette photo est très interressante
bon focus sur sa tête très bizarre,
La lumière et les couleurs sont superbes
Passe une bonne nuit
Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 2 N: 617] (2142)
  • [2009-02-20 10:20]

Hello Patrick . Fantastic capture .great sharpnes colours composition and light . Good Weekend .

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