The breeding season takes place from February to April. In southern Africa, the breeding season lasts from September to November. The White stork has a monogamous mating system, with pairs remaining together for life.

During the breeding season, White storks live loosely in colonies or solitarily. The males usually return to the breeding grounds around March or April. The males arrive a few days earlier than the females. While waiting for the females, the males will enlarge the nest they built in previous years.

When his partner arrives at the breeding area, courtship behaviors will take place, including soft cooing sounds and the “head-shaking squat.” During the latter behavior, the male will lower himself into the nest in a brooding position. He will then stretch his neck and shake his head from side to side. After this, the pair will nod their heads up and down, stretch their wings, and clatter their beaks.

The pair lays one clutch per year. The nest consists of a large stick nest and the inside is lined with peat, manure, paper, and other materials. The nest is built in trees, on cliffs, on the ground among rushes, on roofs, on telegraph poles, on haystacks, on church towers, on chimneys, and on other structures.

The female lays 1 to 7 eggs. The eggs hatch after 33 or 34 days. The young remain in the nest for 55 to 60 days and are cared for by the pair.