Birdsong field guide
Jabiru
Jabiru mycteria
The Jabiru is the tallest flying bird in the Neotropics, a massive stork distinguished by its white plumage, black neck, and inflatable red gular pouch.
What it sounds like
Generally silent; produces percussive, rhythmic bill-clattering during courtship and territorial displays.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- It is the largest stork in the Americas, standing up to 1.5 meters tall with a wingspan that can reach 2.8 meters.
- The distinctive red pouch at the base of the neck is highly distensible and used for both signaling and thermoregulation.
- Adults lack a syrinx and are functionally mute, relying on loud, rhythmic bill-clattering for communication.
- They build massive stick nests in tall trees, often exceeding one meter in diameter, which may be reused and expanded for decades.
- The heavy, slightly upturned bill is an efficient tool for capturing diverse prey, including fish, mollusks, reptiles, and small mammals.
Habitat
Freshwater marshes, seasonally flooded savannas, and shallow wetlands.
Range
Widespread from Mexico to Northern Argentina, with the highest concentrations in the Pantanal and Chaco regions.
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