Prakruti Parichay
CiconiidaeMycteria

Painted Stork

Mycteria leucocephala

93–100 cmVery Large
Beak
—
Feet
—
Crest
No crest

Widespread resident in pla ins; unrecorded in parts of NW and NE subcontinent. Adult has downcurved yellow bill, bare orange head {redder in breeding season), and pinkish legs; white barring on mainly black upperwing-coverts. pinkish tertials. and black barring across breast. in flight underwing appears mainly dark, with barring on coverts. Juvenile dirty greyish-white. with grey-brown (feathered) head and neck and brown lesser coverts; bill and legs duller than adult's. Has distinctive appearance in flight, with extended drooping neck and downcurved bill, long wings with rather deep flapping beats, and long trailing legs. found singly, in small parties and sometimes in large flocks. Forages by wading slowly in shallow water with the bill open and partly submerged. feeling for prey. Roosts gregariously on trees if available, otherwise on open sandbanks, mud or saltpans. Freshwater marshes, lakes and reservoirs, flooded fields, river banks, intertidal mudflats and saltpans.

Colour

GreyBrownBlackWhite
Average size
96.5 cm
Habitat
Roosts gregariously on trees if available, otherwise on open sandbanks, mud or saltpans. Freshwater marshes, lakes and reservoirs, flooded fields, river banks, intertidal mudflats and saltpans.
Behaviour
Widespread resident in pla ins, unrecorded in parts of NW and NE subcontinent. Adult has downcurved yellow bill, bare orange head {redder in breeding season), and pinkish legs, white barring on mainly black upperwing-coverts., found singly, in small parties and sometimes in large flocks. Forages by wading slowly in shallow water with the bill open and partly submerged. feeling for prey.

About this bird

Widespread resident in pla ins; unrecorded in parts of NW and NE subcontinent. Adult has downcurved yellow bill, bare orange head {redder in breeding season), and pinkish legs; white barring on mainly black upperwing-coverts. pinkish tertials. and black barring across breast. in flight underwing appears mainly dark, with barring on coverts. Juvenile dirty greyish-white. with grey-brown (feathered) head and neck and brown lesser coverts; bill and legs duller than adult's. Has distinctive appearance in flight, with extended drooping neck and downcurved bill, long wings with rather deep flapping beats, and long trailing legs. found singly, in small parties and sometimes in large flocks. Forages by wading slowly in shallow water with the bill open and partly submerged. feeling for prey. Roosts gregariously on trees if available, otherwise on open sandbanks, mud or saltpans. Freshwater marshes, lakes and reservoirs, flooded fields, river banks, intertidal mudflats and saltpans.

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Painted Stork is bigger than Great Egret but smaller than Great Hornbill.

This bird

Painted Stork

Mycteria leucocephala

93–100 cm