stork

A large wading bird (the Hebrew word usually translated as “stork” could also appropriately be translated “heron”). Two species of storks migrate through Palestine in spring: the white stork (Ciconia ciconia) and the black stork (Ciconia nigra). Jer. 8:7 probably refers to the seasonal appearance of the stork, whereas (Ps 104:17 “has its home in the fir trees”) enigmatically refers to storks once nesting in Palestine. (Zech 5:9) compares the wings of angels to those of a stork, although the latter was considered to be an unclean animal (Lev 11:19; Deut 14:18).