perfect handling of snails and other molluscs. Sounds Many of the social displays of the African openbill stork are accompanied by bill clatters as is common in most of the Ciconiidae species. This bird also croaks and honks loudly. Flight These storks are smaller in stature than most of the other species in their family which allows them to be much more agile in the air. This agility can be observed during their descents from high altitudes as they often perform steep dives and remarkable acrobatic manoeuvres. During their migration flights, the African openbill storks will use sustained flapping flight with an average wing flap rate of 200-210 flaps/minute. They will also often soar on the thermals when commuting to and from distant feeding areas. This allows them to travel long distances to obtain food without expending too much energy. In flight, these birds have their necks and head extended and their long, broad wings are spread out and perfect for soaring and gliding on the air currents. Predators The adult African openbill does not have many predators, although they are preyed upon by the tawny eagle (Aquila rapax). The African openbill eggs are preyed on by the African harrier-hawk (Polyboroides typus), the African marsh-harrier (Circus ranivorus) and the monitor lizards of the Varanus genus. Special feathers The African openbill adults have dark shiny feathers on their wings and chest that serve in parade and other types of signaling between individuals of the species. These special feathers do not follow the typical structure of feathers. Usually, feathers have a rachi, barbs and barbules, but none of that is found in these parade feathers. Instead, the feathers have a single ribbon-shaped body and a few long, fine stems that disperse laterally from the flat part of the ribbon. This structure serves to create the iridescent colors observed on the feathers. The bottom part of the feathers presents the normal structure of feathers and serves for insulation purposes. It doesn’t produce any color. The coloration is perceived on the outside of the ribbon structure and therefore the iridescence is produced by the external portion of the cortex. This cortex consists of melanin nodules repeated periodically along planes inside the ribbon. These planes are parallel to each other. Scientists believe the dark green appearance of these feathers to be due to the low reflectance levels of the melanin nodules. Two color-producing processes have