Greater Adjutant

Leptoptilos dubius

Beak

—

Feet

—

Crest

Has a crest

Resident. Mainly Assam; rare elsewhere. Larger than Lesser Adjutant, with stouter, conical bill with convex ridge to culmen. Adult breeding told from adult Lesser Adjutant by larger size. bluish-grey! rather than glossy black) mantle. prominent silvery-grey panel across greater coverts and tertials. mainly white neck ruff!lacking or with less pronounced black patch on sides of breast in flight), and grey undertail-coverts. Further, has blackish face and forehead (with appearance of dried blood), more sparsely feathered head and neck {lacking small crest), and larger neck pouch (visible only when inflated). Adult non-breeding has darker grey mantle and wing-coverts (which barely contrast with rest of wing). Immature is similar to adult non-breeding, but upperparts including wings are browner, has brownish (rather than whitish) iris, and head and neck are more densely feathered. Habits are similar to Lesser Adjutant's. but less shy and unl ike that species. feeds partly on carrion. Gathers with others of the species, vultures and kites at refuse dumps. Also hunts small live animals in typical stork fashion. Globally threatened. by walking slowly in marshes and shallow waters. Marshes, lakes and agricultural land.