A stork is a large wading bird with long legs, a long neck, and a long, pointed beak. Storks stand about as tall as an adult human and often live near water, where they hunt for fish, frogs, and other small animals in shallow ponds and marshes. They're powerful fliers, and some species migrate thousands of miles between continents each year.

In many cultures, storks appear in folklore and stories. The most famous legend claims that storks deliver babies to families, carrying them in bundles held in their beaks. Parents sometimes tell young children that “the stork brought you” as a gentle way to answer questions about where babies come from. Of course, this is just a charming story: real storks don't deliver babies, though they do build enormous nests and care devotedly for their own chicks.

The white stork, with its white feathers and black wing tips, is the species most often featured in these tales. You might see storks portrayed in children's books and cartoons, often wearing a small cap and carrying a bundle. While the baby-delivering stork is fictional, real storks remain impressive birds worth admiring for their grace, strength, and remarkable ability to soar across continents.