The Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) is a very primitive-looking resident bird of much of Florida as well as the coastal sections of Georgia and South Carolina. The species also occurs on both coasts of Mexico south into South America. Post-breeding U.S. birds wander through the Gulf states including Texas and the species occasionally shows up in southern California. In some areas of Florida the species is very common and may be seen in city parks, along highway edges, and virtually anywhere. The bird on the left was photographed at a small pond in southern Tamaulipas, Mexico, in December, 2004, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 600mm F/4 L IS lens.

This Wood Stork was resting in a woodland along a canal on Sanibel Island, Lee Co., Florida, in December, 2004. The image was shot with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 300mm F/2.8 L lens and 1.4X extender.

The bird on the left was at at Kenansville, Osceola Co., Florida, in March, 2007, along the edge of Lake Marion. The two shots below of a Wood Stork in flight were of this same bird. These shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens.

 
The Wood Stork in flight in the next 2 images was on Sanibel Island, Lee Co., Florida, in December, 2007. These 2 shots were taken with a Canon EOS 40D and an EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens.