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Asian Openbill Stork

Anastomus oscitans

Description:

The Asian Openbill or Asian Openbill Stork (Anastomus oscitans) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. This distinctive stork is found mainly in and around the Indian subcontinent. It is mainly greyish white with glossy black wings and tail and the adults have the beak with a narrow gap formed by the arched upper mandible and recurved lower mandible. Young birds are born without a gap in the bill and this structure is thought to be an adaptation that aids in handling their main prey of snails. Although mostly resident within their range, they make long distance movements in response to weather and food availability.



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2 Comments

Viju Janardhanan
Viju Janardhanan 9 months ago

Thanks Satyen. Much appreciated. Sure will post them separately.

SatyenM
SatyenM 9 months ago

The first and second pics are of an Asian Openbill Stork, third is of a Spoonbill, fourth is a River tern, fifth is a painted stork and last ones are Egrets. Request you to load them as separate spottings with the details. Thanks.

Karnataka, India

Lat: 12.42, Long: 76.65

Spotted on Feb 2, 2011
Submitted on Sep 17, 2012

Reference

Related spottings

Asian Openbill Asian Openbill Asian Openbill Openbill Stork

Nearby spottings

Painted Stork Great Egret Asian Openbill Stork Eurasian Spoonbill