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The only other instance of such a hybrid was recorded in Germany in 2023, when a black stork and a white stork were observed sharing a nest.
By Shula Rosen
A birdwatching expedition at the Hulda Reservoir in central Israel has led to an astonishing discovery: what appears to be a hybrid stork—part black, part white—marking the first documented sighting of its kind in the country and only the second known globally.
The unusual mocha-colored bird was observed by Dr. Yoav Perlman, director of the Israel Ornithology Center at the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), who was joined by ornithologist and Hebrew University political science professor Piki Ish Shalom during a routine field visit.
Perlman explained that while a DNA sample would be necessary to confirm the bird’s hybrid status, the bird had already flown off before any sample could be taken.
“Without genetic material, we can’t know for certain, but all signs point to this being a rare hybrid between a black stork and a white stork,” he said.
The only other instance of such a hybrid was recorded in Germany in 2023, when a black stork and a white stork were observed sharing a nest.
Though the bird seen in Israel resembles one of their offspring, Perlman confirmed it is not the same individual, as the German chicks were banded for identification.
To verify the unusual find, Perlman consulted with international experts who agreed that the stork most likely represents the same rare interspecies mix.
Black storks, known for their impressive stature—over a meter tall with a wingspan nearing two meters—typically breed in the forests of Europe and Asia, migrating to warmer climates in Africa and South Asia during winter.
Many pass through Israel, some staying in restored wetlands supported by SPNI and local kibbutzim.
The Hulda Reservoir, where the stork was seen, is one such sanctuary.
But it now faces the threat of being converted into a solar energy site under a national reservoir redevelopment plan.
Perlman appealed to authorities to reconsider: “This reservoir is one of the last wetland habitats in the region, vital for countless species. It must be preserved.” Donate to vital charities that help protect Israeli citizens and inspire millions around the world to support Israel too! Now more than ever, Israel needs your help to fight and win the war -- including on the battlefield of public opinion. Antisemitism, anti-Israel bias and boycotts are out of control. Israel's enemies are inciting terror and violence against innocent Israelis and Jews around the world. Help us fight back!
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