Marabou stork was moved into the genus "Leptoptilos" and the ending was modified to "crumeniferus" and used by many authors until it was noted that the correct masculine ending to match the genus is "crumenifer". The marabou stork is a massive bird: large specimens are thought to reach a height of and a weight of . A wingspan of was accepted by Fisher and Peterson, who ranked the species as having the largest wing-spread of any living bird. Even higher measurements of up to have been reported, although no measurement over has been verified. It is often credited with the largest spread
Marabou stork substances when the bird's head was inside a large corpse, and the bare head is easier to keep clean. This large and powerful bird eats mainly carrion, scraps and faeces but will opportunistically eat almost any animal matter it can swallow. It occasionally eats other birds including "quelea" nestlings, pigeons, doves, pelican and cormorant chicks, and even flamingos. During the breeding season, adults scale back on carrion and take mostly small, live prey since nestlings need this kind of food to survive. Common prey at this time may consist of fish, frogs, insects, eggs, small mammals and reptiles such as