The painted stork gets its name from the distinctive pink tertial feathers found on adults. They are found in the wetlands of the plains of tropical Asia south of the Himalayas in the Indian Subcontinent and extending into Southeast Asia, and Australasia. These birds are subjected to the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of dams and water management; human disturbances; land pollution; water pollution; hunting; trapping; and the potential for inbreeding. However, these birds are abundant enough to be listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Their populations are also increasing.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Mycteria leucocephala
Weight: Up to 7.7 lbs.
Length: Up to 40 inches
Wingspan: Up to 63 inches
Lifespan: Up to 29 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) There are approximately up to 60,000 wild individuals existing, to date.
2.) They primarily feast on various species of fish which they find by touch while slowly sweeping their half open bill from side to side while held submerged. Frogs, smaller snakes, crabs, and large insects like grasshoppers are also taken.
3.) Thomas Pennant first described the painted stork in 1790, based on a specimen from Sri Lanka.
4.) They prefer shallow freshwater wetlands, including marshes, lakes, and flooded agricultural fields.
5.) Eagles, crows, and kites are their primary predators and it’s usually just the eggs and chicks that are preyed on.
But wait, there’s more on the painted stork!
6.) When the temperatures rise, they will defecate on their legs, which are highly vascularized, in an attempt to cool themselves. This behavior, known as urohidrosis, is common among storks.
7.) Females lay up to 5 eggs that hatch in up to 1 month.
Did you know…?
When threatened, the chicks will disgorge food and feign death by crumpling to the nest floor.
8.) Chicks fledge in up to 2 months.
9.) In captivity, birds raised from chicks have been known to be tame and docile. They’ve even been known to respond to their name when called.
10.) Hybridization with the lesser adjutant stork has also been recorded in numerous zoos, primarily at the Colombo Zoo, Sri Lanka, where a male painted stork and female lesser adjutant stork mated and reared chicks multiple times.
Now a Short Painted Stork Video!
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Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN
Photo credit: Hari K. Patibanda
