According to African legend, God ran out of animal parts while producing the creatures of Africa. So, God decided to use all the leftover bird parts to create the unsightly marabou stork.

The marabou bird appears to be wearing a dark cloak, with its dark outer feathers contrasted beside the white plumage on its underside. The large size of the bird, coupled with its cloaked appearance, gives it an uncanny resemblance to the image of a grim reaper.