Marabous are among the largest flying birds in the world, the Marabous flight capability is facilitated by hollowtoe bones, which are an important adaptation for flight, considering its large size.
Marabous have adapted well to human growth and activity, which has benefited the thriving species. Because they ingest bacterial waste, Marabous help humans by reducing the spread of disease, and thus, they are important predators. Their powerful beaks break through the rough hides of rotting mammal carcasses, which speeds up the decomposition process and enables weaker scavengers to feast on the dead fleash.
Marabous are attracted to grass fires, where they hunt the small animals fleeing from the blaze. They will eat almost any kind of animal, dead or alive, from caterpillars to flamingos to elephants.
Marabous are large carnivores, notoriously ugly, not only because of their unsavory habits, including squirting excrement onto their own legs, but also because of their featherless, scabby, pink heads and necks speckled with dark pigmentation spots. Interestingly, Marabous evolved bald heads to avoid getting their feathers soiled by the bloody carnage of successful scavenging expeditions. In breeding season, the bare neck turns a pale blue-green, and the spots on the head and neck become encrusted with dried blood. Although the birds are generally considered unsightly, their soft, white tail feathers, called marabou, were once fashionable as trim for hats and gowns. Like lobsters, penguins, and most bird species, Marabous mate for life.
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