These magnificent birds have extraordinary eyes.
1/800, f/8, ISO 800, focal length 560mm
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
I’ve seen Black-necked Storks in the Northern Territory and in Queensland but photographed this one last week at Healesville Sanctuary, Victoria. They are remarkable looking birds. Until fairly recently they were called Jabiru which is a beaut-sounding name but totally inappropriate as it relates to a stork from the Americas, despite sounding as though it could be an Indigenous Australian word. I do think it’s strange that they chose Black-necked Stork as its replacement name as its neck is beautifully irridescent while the American stork has a featherless black neck.
1/800, f/8, ISO 800, focal length 560mm
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
I’ve written a few posts about birds’ nictitating eyelids, and shared many images, but I’ve never seen one quite like this. Birds’ membranous eyelids move sideways to moisten the eye while maintaining vision.
Female Black-necked Storks have a yellow iris, they are slightly shorter than the brown-eyed males.
1/1000, f/7.1, ISO 800, focal length 560mm
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
I’m hoping this heavy crop, above, will show how root-like the vessels of the nictitating eyelid appear – isn’t it awesome!
1/800, f/7.1, ISO 800, focal length 560mm
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
This post will be published much later than I’d planned as I keep thinking of extra images I’d like to share with you, including the shot above which shows the membrane as it is moving across the eye.
1/800, f/7.1, ISO 800, focal length 560mm
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
Birds often close their lower lids while sleeping and this magnificent bird was very relaxed and sleepy, especially when the sun was shining. It looks strange to see the lower lid closing and the nictitating eyelid in the same shot, surrounded by a sea of tiny feathers.
Happy birding, Kim
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group Ethical Bird Photography
[…] I was staggered when this beautiful species was renamed Black-necked Stork. The name Jabiru relates to a species from the Americas so it made sense to change it, but this stork’s neck is stunningly iridescent with feathers that sparkle. They also have incredible eyes with amazing nictitating eyelids that I shared images of previously, they are worth a look: Stork’s Extraordinary Eye […]
Thank you so much Kim for an absolutely brilliantly beautiful, informative and intriguing post.
You are so welcome Kat, thanks for letting me know you enjoyed the post.
Thanks so much for sharing, when you look at the shape of the eyes, it’s hard to figure out how any of it works as there are no shapes that seem to interconnect, what fascinating design and truly beautiful colours!
You’re welcome Syndy. The eye looks so normal in the first shot doesn’t it, then the design unfolds in such a remarkable way. I’m glad you like it too.
I can’t think of enough praiseworthy superlatives for these amazing images. The detail is breath taking. Thank you!
You are so welcome Margot, and you’ve left me imagine some very pleasing superlatives!
Awesome photographs Kim.
Thank you Linda 🙂
What an amazing series of shots! Fascinating.
So glad you like them Stephen
Amazing photos, thank you. Interesting about their names too, I always thought Jabiru was and indigenous word.
You’re welcome Donna. The name really sounds indigenous, I wish it was!
Fascinating eye pics Kim but I was also much taken with that immensely strong and heavy looking bill and the gorjus iridescent feathers, truly remarkable. Shame about the name I also thought it was Australian aboriginal.
Cheers Alison
The bill looks way too heavy for the neck. I captured a shot that shows the incongruous difference, it’s a wonder its neck muscles can cope – I’m thinking of adding that shot to the Birdlife Australia page, I’ll add it to lirralirra at some point. They are a truly remarkable bird.
Fantastic feather colours and close ups. Reminds me of black Cockatoos and Satin Bowerbirds. For the Sydney Olympics the Sanctuary was selling blue cockatoos, it wasn’t till I saw my photo of a black cockatoo (blue colour)that I understood why? Birds feathers are also an interesting study – the way they bend and refract the light..
Oh yes, that blue-black look that is so exquisite! So many birds look amazing in the right light, even the much maligned starlings.
In the shots of the nictating membrane I could have sworn I was seeing reflections of the elegance of wintry deciduous trees.
What a fascinating (and beautiful) post. Many thanks.
If I had to choose a name I suspect I would lean towards jabiru – which is when all is said and done no more inaccurate than Black-necked Stork.
That is a very good point about the name! I agree about the wintry trees, lovely.
These are amazing images, Kim! Those root-like veins on the nictitating membrane and capturing the eyelid half closed are fascinating!
They have such beautiful iridescent feathers too. A great post, thank you!
You sound just as fascinated by it as I am Kim! It was a buzz to be able to capture images of her remarkable eye, I’m glad I’m not the only one who like it!
Fabulous shots of an extraordinary bird! Thank you. I didn’t know Jabiru refers to far away birds! Why couldn’t they give this one an aboriginal name – much more interesting!
I totally agree with you about giving this bird an Aboriginal name – I wonder what it would be! I’m glad you enjoyed the shots Bridget, thank you