Painted Stork

Painted Stork

Indian wood stork, Rosy wood ibis

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Mycteria leucocephala
Population size
25-35 Thou
Life Span
28 years
Weight
2-3.5
4.4-7.7
kglbs
kg lbs 
Height
93-102
36.6-40.2
cminch
cm inch 
Length
93-102
36.6-40.2
cminch
cm inch 
Wingspan
150-160
59.1-63
cminch
cm inch 

The painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala ) is a large wader in the stork family. It is found in the wetlands of the plains of tropical Asia south of the Himalayas in the Indian Subcontinent and extending into Southeast Asia. Their distinctive pink tertial feathers of the adults give them their name. They forage in flocks in shallow waters along rivers or lakes. They immerse their half open beaks in water and sweep them from side to side and snap up their prey of small fish that are sensed by touch. As they wade along they also stir the water with their feet to flush hiding fish. They nest colonially in trees, often along with other waterbirds. The only sounds they produce are weak moans or bill clattering at the nest. They are not migratory and only make short distance movements in some parts of their range in response to changes in weather or food availability or for breeding. Like other storks, they are often seen soaring on thermals.

Di

Diurnal

Ca

Carnivore

Pi

Piscivores

Te

Terrestrial

Ar

Arboreal

Wa

Wading birds

So

Soaring birds

Gl

Gliding

Al

Altricial

Co

Congregatory

Mo

Monogamy

So

Social

Fl

Flocking

Co

Colonial

No

Not a migrant

P

starts with

Appearance

Painted storks are large waders found in the wetlands of the plains of tropical Asia. Their distinctive pink flight feathers of the adults give them their name. These beautifully colored birds have a heavy yellow beak with a down-curved tip that gives them a resemblance to an ibis. Males and females appear alike but the males of a pair are usually larger than the female.

Distribution

Geography

Painted storks are widely distributed over the plains of Asia. They are found south of the Himalayan ranges and are bounded on the west by the Indus River system where they are rare and extend eastwards into Southeast Asia. Painted storks are absent from very dry or desert regions, dense forests, and the higher hill regions. They prefer freshwater wetlands in all seasons, but also use irrigation canals and crop fields, particularly flooded rice fields during the monsoon.

Painted Stork habitat map

Climate zones

Painted Stork habitat map
Painted Stork
Public Domain Dedication (CC0)

Habits and Lifestyle

Painted storks are not migratory and only make short-distance movements in some parts of their range in response to changes in weather or food availability or for breeding. These birds are highly gregarious and feed in groups in shallow wetlands, crop fields, and irrigation canals. Painted storks feed mainly on small fish which they sense by touch while slowly sweeping their half-open bill from side to side while it held submerged. They walk slowly and also disturb the water with their feet to flush hiding fish. They forage mainly in the day but may forage late or even at night under exceptional conditions. After they are fed Painted storks may stand still on the shore for long durations. Like other storks, they are mostly silent but clatter their bills at the nest and may make some harsh croaking or low moaning sounds at the nest.

Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Painted storks are carnivores (piscivores). Their diet consists mainly of small fish, but also crustaceans, amphibians, insects, and reptiles. They also take frogs and occasionally snakes.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
REPRODUCTION SEASON
starts in winter and varies with location
INCUBATION PERIOD
1 month
INDEPENDENT AGE
2 months
BABY NAME
chick
web.animal_clutch_size
1-5 eggs

Painted storks are monogamous and form pairs. They breed on trees either in mixed colonies along with other water birds or by themselves. The breeding season begins in the winter months shortly after the monsoons. In northern India, the breeding season begins in mid-August while in southern India the nest initiation begins around October and continues till February and or even until April. The female lays 1 to 5 eggs and incubates them for about a month. The chicks are altricial; they are born naked and with closed eyes. To feed nestlings, parents regurgitate fish that they have caught and these are typically smaller than 20 cm long. The fledging period is nearly two months and reproductive maturity is generally reached at about 4 years of age.

Population

Population threats

The main threats to Painted storks include habitat loss and agricultural pollution, disturbance from human activities, hunting of adult birds, and collection of eggs and newly hatched chicks.

Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total Painted stork population size is around 25,000-35,000 individuals or 16,000-24,000 mature individuals. This includes 25,000 individuals in South Asia and 1-10,000 individuals in South-East Asia. Currently, this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • Painted storks have a very beautiful and elegant flight. They often make use of the late morning thermals to soar in search of foraging areas.
  • The legs Painted storks are yellowish to red in color but often appear white due to their habit of defecating on their legs especially when at rest.
  • During the mid-day heat, Painted stork parents will stand at the nest with wings outstretched to shade the chicks.
  • When feeling threatened, Painted stork chicks disgorge food and feign death by crumpling to the nest floor.
  • The daily requirement of food for Painted stork chicks is made up of about 9 fish which are usually fed in two sessions.
  • Nesting colonies of Painted storks are so large that they may contain up to 100 nests.

References

1. Painted Stork on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painted_stork
2. Painted Stork on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697658/93628598
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/547488

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