The Saddle-billed Stork is a huge black and white stork with a striking diagnostic red and black bill with a yellow saddle at its base. It is widespread but uncommon within its range. It is usually solitary or found in pairs in its preferred habitat of large freshwater lakes, rivers and marshes. This bird was in Lake Awassa very close to the bustling Awassa fish market. The yellow eye shows that this is a female bird and the red bare skin on its breast may be a brood patch. It had just caught a large fish, a Nile Perch, which amazingly escaped after a long struggle much to the bird's annoyance.