The Black-necked Stork is the only species of stork found in Australia.
Conservation Status in NSW: Endangered
Commonwealth Status: Not Listed
The Black-necked Stork is the only species of stork in Australia and is under threat due to human and environmental impacts. Once wide spread throughout eastern NSW, it is now extinct from much of its former habitat
Identification:
The Black-necked Stork is a striking black-and-white waterbird that can reach up to 1.3 metres tall with a wingspan of about 2 metres. Its head and neck are glossy black with a green and purple sheen. The bill is large and black, as are the short tail and parts of the wings. In contrast, the body is bright white, and the long legs stand out in vivid orange-red to deep red. Males can be recognised by their dark brown eyes, while females have yellow eyes. Young birds look quite different, with mostly brown colouring.
Habitat and Distribution:
There are two recognised subspecies of Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus. The Asian subspecies (E. a. asiaticus) occurs in India and South-East Asia, while the Australian subspecies (E. a. australis) is found in Australia and New Guinea.
In Australia, the Black-necked Stork is distributed across coastal and subcoastal areas of the north and east, reaching as far south as central New South Wales. In NSW, the population is small and vulnerable, with only an estimated 75 breeding pairs remaining in the wild.
The species depends on floodplain wetlands for survival. Key habitats include swamps, dams, and watercourses, especially those with shallow water between 5 and 30 centimetres deep, which provide ideal foraging conditions. Tall trees near water are also important, as they are used for building large nests that offer both stability and clear views of the surroundings.
Diet:
The Black-necked Stork feeds on a wide range of prey. Its diet includes invertebrates such as grasshoppers, crabs, and crayfish, as well as vertebrates like amphibians and fish. Long-finned eels are a particularly important food source and make up a large part of the stork’s diet.
What can we do?
A targeted strategy is currently in developed under the Saving Our Species program to protect the Black-necked Stork.
Look after wetlands – Support efforts to keep wetlands healthy with natural water flows so storks have food and shelter all year round.
Reduce impacts – Avoid polluting waterways and support farming and land practices that protect wetlands and the animals that live there.
Protect nesting trees – Value and protect tall trees and floodplain vegetation, as these provide important nesting sites.
Under Threat:
The main threats to the Black-necked Stork come from collisions with man-made structures and the loss or damage of wetland habitats. Key threats include:
Powerline collisions – especially near wetlands and floodplains, these are a major cause of stork deaths in NSW.
Changes to water flows – altering natural flows can damage wetlands; storks need healthy wetlands with plenty of prey.
Wetland loss – clearing and draining wetlands for development, flood mitigation, or agriculture reduces available habitat.
Pollution – agricultural run-off, chemicals, and other pollution degrade water quality and food sources.
Loss of nesting trees – removal of mature paddock trees, without replacement, reduces nesting opportunities.
Salinity – rising salinity levels can harm wetland ecosystems.
Human disturbance – activity near wetlands and nests can disrupt stork behaviour.
Lack of monitoring – ongoing population monitoring is needed to track the species’ status and threats over time.
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Reference List:
New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. (2017, December 1). Black-necked Stork – profile [Threatened biodiversity profile]. BioNet: Threatened Species. Retrieved September 8, 2025, from https://threatenedspecies.bionet.nsw.gov.au/profile?id=10275
