Printable Marabou Stork Mask

printable marabou stork mask for kids

Magnificently ugly, begrudgingly fascinating and with a face only a mother could love - our printable marabou stork mask is a bold and brilliant choice! The marabou stork has been called the ugliest bird in Africa, but that bald head, enormous bill and dangling throat sac make it completely unforgettable. Perfect for African birds school projects, unusual animals classroom activities, World Book Day, birthday parties, and wonderfully grotesque imaginative play.

The marabou stork is the kind of mask that takes genuine character to choose - and the kids who pick it always love explaining exactly why it's brilliant. An underdog hero of the Masketeers collection. Every mask comes with a full colour version AND a black and white line art version for colouring in.

5 Interesting Facts About Marabou Storks!

  • The marabou stork has a wingspan of up to 3.7 metres - one of the largest of any living bird, exceeded only by the wandering albatross and Andean condor.
  • That bald head and neck are actually a hygiene adaptation - feathers would get matted with blood and gore when the bird plunges its head into carcasses to feed, so bare skin is much easier to keep clean.
  • The dangling pink throat sac is used for displays and temperature regulation - the stork inflates it during courtship and can also use it as a radiator to lose heat on hot days.
  • Marabou storks produce a white, chalky excrement that they deliberately spread over their own legs - the evaporation helps cool them down in the African heat, which is more effective than it sounds.
  • Despite their reputation as scavengers, marabou storks are also active predators - they will catch fish, frogs, small birds and even flamingo chicks at the water's edge.