Black-necked Stork

Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus

Beak

—

Feet

—

Crest

No crest

Widespread resident in lowlands. Large, black-and - white stork with long red legs and huge black bill. in flight. wings white except for broad black band across coverts, and tail black. Male has brown iris; yellow in female. Juvenile has fawn-brown head, neck and mantle, mainly brown wing-coverts. and mainly blackish-brown flight feathers; legs dark. Forages singly, in well-separated pairs within sight of each other, or in family parties after the breeding season. Usually very wary. Wades slowly and sedately while probing in shallow water and among aquatic vegetation with bill open at the tip. Freshwater mar shes, lakes, tanks and large rivers; occasionally mangroves, rarely coastal mudflats.