The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a large bird in the
stork family Ciconiidae. Its
plumage is mainly white, with black on its wings. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks, and measure on average 100–115 cm (39–45 in) from beak tip to end of tail, with a 155–215 cm (61–85 in) wingspan. The two
subspecies, which differ slightly in size, breed in Europe (north to
Finland), northwestern Africa, southwestern Asia (east to southern
Kazakhstan), and southern Africa. The White Stork is a long-distance
migrant, wintering in Africa from tropical
Sub-Saharan Africa to as far south as South Africa, or on the Indian subcontinent. A
carnivore, the White Stork eats a wide range of animal prey, including insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, and small birds. It takes most of its food from the ground, among low vegetation, and from shallow water. It is a
monogamous breeder, but does not pair for life. This conspicuous bird has given rise to many legends across its range, of which the best-known is the story of babies being brought by storks. (
more...)
Anticipating violent reactions to a series of cartoons depicting
Muhammad in the magazine Charlie Hebdo,
France announces plans to temporarily close its embassies in 20 Muslim countries.
Greyhound racing is a sport similar to
horse racing where
greyhounds, which have been bred primarily for
coursing and racing, chase a lure around a track. Greyhounds can accelerate to 70 km/h (43 mph) within six strides. The sport was invented in 1919 in the United States and has since spread to a number of countries.
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