BIRDS OF BANDHAVGARH

storks

LESSER ADJUTANT STORK

Leptoptilos javanicus

WHITE-NECKED STORK

Ciconia episcopus

SPECIES INFORMATION:

Eggs:
Incubation: days
Fledging: days
Length: 110-120 cm
Wingspan: 210 cm
Weight: g

SPECIES INFORMATION:

Eggs:
Incubation: days
Fledging: days
Length: 85-106 cm
Wingspan: cm
Weight: g

DESCRIPTION

Slightly larger than the vulture and a bit smaller in size than an adjutant, the lesser adjutant is glossy metallic black in colour with an ugly featherless, yellow head. It stands lower than an adjutant and has a prominent white in the lower portion of the body.

The lesser adjutant stork is currently listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Formerly common and widespread, it has declined, with a current population estimate of 5,000 birds. Several threats are contributing to its decline, with their relative importance varying across its range.

The loss of nest-sites through the felling of colony nest trees is a major threat, particularly in Assam. In many areas, drainage and conversion of wetland feeding areas, agricultural intensification, increased pesticide use and disturbance, and hunting and collection of eggs, chicks, and adults are major threats. Coastal populations are threatened by large-scale development, including aquaculture and the clearance of mangroves.

DESCRIPTION

The White-necked or Woolly-necked Stork is a broad winged soaring bird, which relies on moving between thermals of hot air for sustained long distance flight. Like all storks, it flies with its neck outstretched.

It is all black except for the woolly white neck and white lower belly. The upperparts are glossed dark green, and the breast and belly have a purple hue. The straight bill is black with a red line where the mandibles join.

Juvenile birds are duller versions of the adult. African birds, C. e. microscelis, have the head mainly black, but the nominate Asian race, C. e. episcopus, has the head mainly white except for a darker area around the eyes. The Woolly-necked Stork can often be seen walking slowly and steadily on the ground seeking its prey.

The Woolly-necked Stork is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

DIET

Although it feeds on carcasses, the bird is fonder of fish, frog, reptiles, and smaller invertebrates.

DIET

Frogs, lizards and large insects.

HABITAT

The bird is uncommon in continental India, can be found in Kerala, northeast India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka near the water bodies and wandering through marshes and grassy wetlands. It’s very shy and is not likely hang around for long.

HABITAT

It is a widespread tropical species which breeds in Africa, and also in Asia from India to Indonesia. It is a resident breeder in wetlands with trees. It roosts high up in trees and where it builds its nest. It never joins the large breeding colonies of other storks.

WHERE TO LOOK

Grassy wetlands of Rajbehra meadow; The streams and shallow rivers running towards Sehra meadow from Bathan; The Chakradhara meadow

Where to look

Grassy wetlands of Rajbehra meadow; Streams and shallow rivers running towards Sehra meadow from Bathan; Chakradhara meadow; Grasslands surrounding Sukhi Daiti